What is a dental home?
The dental home is the ongoing relationship between the dentist and the patient, inclusive of all aspects of oral health care delivered in a comprehensive, continuously accessible, coordinated, and family-centered way. Establishment of a dental home begins no later than 12 months of age and includes referral to dental specialists when appropriate.
A dental home is a place where the following is available:
*An accurate risk assessment for oral diseases and conditions
*An individualized preventive oral health program based on risk assessment
*Anticipatory guidance about growth and development issues (for example, teething; thumb, finger, or pacifier habits; and feeding practices)
*A plan for emergency oral trauma treatment
*Information about proper care of the infant's or child's teeth and soft oral tissues
*Information about proper nutrition and dietary practices
*Comprehensive oral health care in accordance with the child's needs and accepted guidelines and periodicity schedules for pediatric oral health
*Referrals to other oral health specialists (such as endodontists, oral surgeons, orthodontists, and periodontists) when care cannot be provided directly within the dental home.
Performance Standards
1304.20(a)(1)(i)
References
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Council on Clinical Affairs. 2005. Definition of dental home. Pediatric Dentistry Reference Manual. http://www.aapd.org/media/policies_guidelines/d_dentalhome.pdf.
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Council on Clinical Affairs. 2004. Policy on the dental home. Pediatric Dentistry Reference Manual. http://www.aapd.org/media/policies_guidelines/p_dentalhome.pdf.
American Academy of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Dentistry. 2003. Oral health risk assessment timing and establishment of the dental home. Pediatrics 3(5):1113-1116. http://www.aap.org/policy/S040137.html.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. 2004. Guide to Children's Dental Care in Medicaid. p. 5. Baltimore, MD: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medicaiddentalcoverage/downloads/dentalguide.pdf.
Nowak AJ, Casamassimo PS. 2002. The dental home: A primary care oral health concept. Journal of the American Dental Association 133(1):93-98.
Xtria, Inc. 2006. Head Start Program Information Report: 2006 User's Guide. Vienna, VA: Xtria, Inc. http://xtria.com/pir2006.
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