Oral Health Care for Young Texans

“The dental home should be established no later than 12 months of age to help children and their families institute a lifetime of optimal oral health.”

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
Policy on the Dental Home, 2023

Case Study

David

14 months

It’s a normal day in your busy family dental practice. During her regular checkup, your patient Mrs. Valenzuela shares stories about her 14-month-old grandson David, for whom she is the legal guardian. She shows you a photo of David with a big smile on his face, and you notice some brown spots on his incisors. After admiring David’s photo, you ask Mrs. Valenzuela whether he has seen a dentist. 

“Oh no, he’s still a baby,” she responds. “He doesn’t even have all his baby teeth yet.”

“Even though he’s still a baby, he should see a dentist just like he sees his doctor to help him be healthy,” you tell her. “Baby teeth can develop cavities that cause problems for David. A dentist can help prevent him from developing problems with his teeth.” 

Select one answer and use the Submit button to check your response.

Which of the following steps should you take to promote good oral health for David?

Make an appointment for David to have his first checkup, provide Mrs. Valenzuela with information and handouts about daily oral hygiene for David, and (if you are enrolled in Texas Health Steps) enroll as a First Dental Home provider to offer targeted services for children ages 6 through 35 months.

This answer is correct.

You can help David get a good start on oral health by encouraging an appointment for his first dental checkup and providing his grandmother, the legal guardian, with guidance and handouts about daily oral hygiene. If you participate in Texas Health Steps, you can also support David and other young children by enrolling in the First Dental Home program to provide targeted oral health services and receive Medicaid reimbursement.

Remind Mrs. Valenzuela to help David brush his teeth twice a day and encourage her to make an appointment for him to have a dental checkup when all his baby teeth come in (around age 3 years.)

This answer is incorrect.

You can help David get a good start on oral health by encouraging an appointment for his first dental checkup and providing his grandmother with guidance and handouts about daily oral hygiene. If you participate in Texas Health Steps, you can also support David and other young children by enrolling in the First Dental Home program to provide targeted oral health services and receive Medicaid reimbursement.

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First Dental Home is a package of dental services sponsored by Texas Health and Human Services for children enrolled in Texas Health Steps. Pediatric and general dentists who are enrolled in Texas Health Steps are eligible to enroll as First Dental Home providers and receive reimbursement from Medicaid.

Texas Health Steps requires medical providers to refer patients to establish a dental home beginning at age 6 months and at every checkup until a dental home is confirmed. This collaboration between medical and dental providers increases access to preventive services for children across Texas. 

Take the first step toward becoming a First Dental Home provider by taking the First Dental Home continuing education course. The course covers in detail the required components of First Dental Home checkups and provides links to help you enroll and begin providing services to young children and their families.