Nearly 40% of Washington State’s children start kindergarten with tooth decay. Early prevention and intervention—preferably by a child’s first birthday—are critical to improving children’s oral health.
 
Primary care medical providers usually see a child 11 times before age 3 for well-child check-ups. They are well-positioned to deliver preventive oral health services as part of these visits. WDS Foundation provides in-office continuing education trainings for primary care medical providers on delivering oral health screenings, conducting risk assessments, sharing oral health tips with families and applying fluoride varnish to children’s teeth. The trainings also identify resources for follow-up dental care and provide information on billing for these services. This training certifies providers to receive Medicaid reimbursements for delivering oral health prevention services.
 
WDS Foundation is partnering with Group Health Cooperative and other large and small primary care clinics statewide to deliver preventive oral health services during well-child checks. Since 2002, WDS Foundation and our partners have trained approximately one-third of all primary care physicians in Washington State. See links below for health education materials promoting the importance of baby teeth and early interventions. These are available free of charge for clinics and community organizations in Washington. 

Click here to order copies order form:

 Baby Teeth Brochure


 Baby Teeth Poster


For more information about WDS Foundation’s efforts to engage Primary Care Providers or to schedule an in-office medical training, visit www.KidsOralHealth.org or contact Madlen Caplow at (206) 473-9542 or mcaplow@deltadentalwa.com.