Oral Health and Preventive Care
Make addressing oral health a regular part of annual/preventive care visits. Consider incorporating a discussion about oral symptoms, oral hygiene, diet, and dental visits when examining the mouth.
- Briefly discuss oral health habits, proper diet, and referrals to dental providers as part of overall health promotion.
- Include oral health among the documents to be printed out at the conclusion of an annual visit and/or keep patient handouts in the waiting room or on your office web site.
- Maintain a list of local dental providers that you trust, can communicate with, and who are culturally sensitive.
- Know which dental providers in your community accept Medicaid or how to access such a list. The state Medicaid office will often have 1-800 numbers or links on their web site of providers who accept Medicaid reimbursement.
Design Pics/Punchstock