Welcome to the training on First Dental Home provided by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA).
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Completing this course is a prerequisite for applying for certification as a First Dental Home provider.
To be certified to bill Medicaid for First Dental Home services, you must be enrolled as a provider in Texas Medicaid and Texas Health Steps. Enroll online through the Texas Medicaid & Healthcare Partnership Provider Enrollment portal.
You must also complete the following requirements:
- Complete this First Dental Home training and obtain a CE training certificate.
- Submit a First Dental Home Certification Application (fillable PDF) to be certified as a First Dental Home provider.
- Include your individual national provider identifier (NPI) number on the form.
Email the completed application form and CE training certificate to THStepsOEFV.FDH@hhsc.state.tx.us, or fax them to 512-483-3979.
Completion of this training is recommended for all members of a provider’s dental team who will be assisting with First Dental Home services.
Dental providers must be certified only once to provide First Dental Home services, with no requirement to retake the training or submit a new application. However, providers are eligible to receive CE credit for taking this training every 12 months, and the training is updated every three years with policy and clinical changes. Providers and staff members may wish to retake the training to maintain proficiency in providing services.
Goal
The goal of this module is to train general and pediatric dentists enrolled in Texas Health Steps on the requirements of becoming a First Dental Home provider for children ages 6 months through 35 months.
Target Audience
Texas Health Steps providers and other interested health care professionals.
Specific Learning Objectives
- Summarize the challenges that young Texans face in accessing oral health care and the importance of the First Dental Home model.
- Specify the required components of initial and subsequent First Dental Home checkups.
- Determine the recommended periodicity of First Dental Home checkups based on use of the caries risk assessment.
Please note this module expires on 10/16/2028.
This module was released on 10/16/2025.
Continuing Dental Education
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio has approved this course for continuing education from the Office of Continuing Dental Education.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Office of Continuing Dental Education at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio is to provide professional growth opportunities and quality continuing education programs as the needs of the profession demand.
Our Philosophy
We believe Continuing Dental Education courses should present the latest developments in patient evaluation, treatment, techniques, products, materials, and equipment, grounded in sound scientific principles. Although the School of Dentistry does not endorse specific content or philosophies, it offers diverse viewpoints to better serve practicing dentists.
One of the requirements of continuing education is disclosure of the following information to the learner:
- Notice of requirements for successful completion of continuing education activity. To receive continuing education credit the learner must successfully complete the following activities:
- Create a Texas Health Steps account.
- Complete on-line registration process.
- Thoroughly read the content of the module.
- Complete the on-line examination.
- Complete the evaluation.
- Commercial Support.
The THSTEPS Web-based Continuing Education Series has received no commercial support. - Disclosure of Relevant Financial Relationships.
The THSTEPS Continuing Education Planning Committee and the authors of these modules have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. - Non-Endorsement Statement.
Accredited status does not imply endorsement of any commercial products or services by the Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service; Texas Medical Association; or American Nurse Credentialing Center. - Off-Label Use.
Using a disclosure review process, the THSTEPS Continuing Education Planning Committee has examined documents and has concluded that the authors of these modules have not included content that discusses off-label use (use of products for a purpose other than that for which they were approved by the Food and Drug Administration).
The following are policies and definitions of terms related to continuing education disclosure:
The intent of disclosure is to allow Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Continuing Education Service the opportunity to resolve any potential conflicts of interest to assure balance, independence, objectivity and scientific rigor in all of its Continuing Education activities.
All faculty, planners, speakers and authors of Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Continuing Education Service sponsored activities are expected to disclose to the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Continuing Education Service any relevant financial, relationships with any commercial or personal interest that produces health care goods or services concerned with the content of an educational presentation. Faculty, planners, speakers and authors must also disclose where there are any other potentially biasing relationships of a professional or personal nature.
Glossary of Terms
Conflict of Interest: Circumstances create a conflict of interest when an individual has an opportunity to affect Continuing Education content about products or services of a commercial interest with which she/he has a financial relationship or where there are any other potentially biasing relationships of a professional or personal nature.
Commercial Interest: Any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients.
Financial Relationships: Those relationships in which the individual benefits by receiving a salary, royalty, intellectual property rights, consulting fee, honoraria, ownership interest (e.g., stocks, stock options or other ownership interest, excluding diversified mutual funds), or other financial benefit. Financial benefits are usually associated with roles such as employment, management position, independent contractor (including contracted research), consulting, teaching, membership on advisory committees or review panels, board membership, and other activities for which remuneration is received or expected. Relevant financial relationships would include those within the past 12 months of the person involved in the activity and a spouse or partner. Relevant financial relationships of your spouse or partner are those of which you are aware at the time of this disclosure.
Off Label: Using products for a purpose other than that for which it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).