Similar to a medical home, a dental home is a dental office where your patients feel safe and comfortable visiting regularly. Having an established dental home allows your patients to develop trust with the dental staff which will help reduce fear. Children who develop a familiar relationship with their dentist are less likely to experience dental anxiety and are more likely to visit the dentist regularly into adulthood.
Oral health can be a window to our overall health. Medi-Cal provides free or low-cost dental check-ups every six months for members under the age of 21 and once every 12 months for members 21 and older.
Help your patients find a Medi-Cal dental provider in their area accepting new patients. Direct them to the “Find A Dentist” page on SmileCalifornia.org. There is a video for members to help them learn how to navigate the “Find A Dentist” tool.
Please let your patients know that they can also like Smile, California on Facebook (@SmileCalifornia) or follow on Instagram (@SmileOnCalifornia) to learn more about the Medi-Cal Dental Program or their benefits.
There is also a “Primary Care Physician Toolkit” available on SmileCalifornia.org that includes fluoride varnish and other oral health resources for you and your team to explore. You can find this toolkit on the “Partners & Providers” page of the website.
Visit the “Sign up for our Smile Alerts” tab on the “Partners & Providers” page to sign up to receive future Smile, California campaign updates and materials!
If you have questions, please e-mail hello@smilecalifornia.org. Smile On!