Smiles for Ohio—Fluoride Varnish: Training for Primary Medical Care Providers Serving Children Enrolled in Medicaid

Welcome to Smiles for Ohio—Fluoride Varnish: Training for Primary Medical Care Providers Serving Children Enrolled in Medicaid. This series of four modules is designed to provide Medicaid/Healthchek primary medical care providers and other health care providers with knowledge needed to reduce the incidence of dental caries among children under age 3 and to contribute to the establishment of a dental home.

• Module 1: Role of Primary Medical Care Providers
• Module 2: Dental Caries Process
• Module 3: Caries Risk Assessment
• Module 4: Anticipatory Guidance, Fluoride Varnish, and Referral

Course Objectives for Physicians

• The participant will be able to communicate to parents the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendations that pediatricians conduct an oral health risk assessment on children beginning at age 6 months and refer children at high risk for dental caries (tooth decay) to a dental home by age 1.
• The participant will be able to explain to parents the factors that influence the development of dental caries and the role good nutrition plays in reducing dental caries.
• The participant will be able to quickly and effectively conduct a caries risk assessment, including interviewing the child’s parents or other primary caregivers and performing an oral health screening.
• The participant will be able to apply fluoride varnish to a child’s teeth as a component of a well or sick child visit.

Course Objectives for Nurses

• The participant will be able to describe the purpose of and procedures for fluoride varnish application and the reasons for referral to a dentist.
• The participant will be able to explain the purpose of and tools available for caries risk assessment as well as how to conduct an oral health screening.
• The participant will be able to explain what to emphasize when providing anticipatory guidance and referral information to parents or caregivers.

Post-Tests and Continuing Education Credits: Participants who complete this self-study course may take the post-tests (credit and non-credit options). Physicians licensed in Ohio will receive 1.0 hour of AMA Physician Recognition Award category 1 continuing medical education credit through the joint sponsorship of the Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Ohio Department of Health. Nurses licensed in Ohio will receive 1.25 contact hours of continuing nursing education credit through the Ohio Department of Health.

• Post-Tests

Cost: The curriculum is free.

Course Development: The curriculum was adapted from Maryland’s Mouths Matter: Fluoride Varnish and Oral Health Screening Program for Kids—Training for EPSDT Medical Providers in Maryland and was reviewed by a team of experts. Click here for a list of adapters and reviewers. Support for the development of the curriculum was provided by the HealthPath Foundation of Ohio. After completing the curriculum, fill out the course evaluation (completion of the evaluation is a requirement for CE credit). Your feedback will help improve the curriculum.

Note: Returning participants who have registered but have not finished the post-tests will be directed to the login page in order to complete the post-tests.