October 2024 | Issue No. 44 Ensuring Children Are Up to Date on Oral Health Care Welcome to Resources to Make You Smile! This monthly newsletter features information and tools Head Start staff can use to help families promote good oral health. These tips help Head Start staff support families, expectant parents, and children. The newsletter also includes a recipe for a healthy snack that children can make in a Head Start classroom or at home with their families. |
The Head Start Program Performance Standards (the Performance Standards) require programs to obtain a determination from an oral health professional about whether a child is up to date on their oral health care (45 CFR §1302.42(b)(1)(i)). This determination is based on the dental periodicity schedule prescribed by the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit of each state’s Medicaid agency.
Oral Exams Oral exams conducted during the program year can identify problems that require timely and appropriate care. Head Start staff, as well as oral health professionals providing care, can also encourage parents to establish an accessible and ongoing source of oral health care for their child to help keep them healthy and ready to learn. Resources for Head Start Staff Ensuring Children Are Up to Date on Oral Health Services A Guide to the Dental Periodicity Schedule and Oral Exam Resources for Parents Share these Healthy Habits for Happy Smiles handouts after individual meetings or group trainings with parents to provide information about the importance of preventing and treating tooth decay, the timing of a child’s first dental visit, and what to expect during the visit:
Cook’s Corner Recipe: Monster Open-face Cheese Sandwich |
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Ingredients Directions
Makes 1 serving |
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