Oral Health
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Protecting
Young
Teeth |
Panhandle Health District contracts with a dental hygienist who offers fluoride and sealant protection to eligible children and pregnant women in Idaho's five northern counties.
Fluoride Varnish
Fluoride varnish is a protective coating that the dental hygienist brushes onto a child's chewing surfaces and around the gum line. The process takes about two minutes and helps offset any starting decay. The fluoride varnish last six months. PHD recommends the varnish process every six months for children. It's available to children age 12 and under and to pregnant women who qualify for the Women's, Infants and Children (WIC) program. Eligibility guidelines are below.
PHD provides the fluoride varnish twice each year to Head Start centers in the five northern counties. Eligible children may also receive the varnish in PHD offices in Kootenai and Bonner counties.
- Kootenai County - usually available once each week. Call 415-5147 to schedule a time.
- Bonner County - available twice a year. Check here for dates or call PHD's Sandpoint office at 263-5159.
PHD's dental hygienist brushes sealant onto the permanent molars of eligible children ages 6-14 to protect their teeth during the cavity-prone years. Dentists in the five northern counties donate their offices for the sealant process that takes about 20 minutes per child.
Sealant clinics, locations and dates will be listed here.
Fluoride Rinse
PHD provides fluoride rinse supplies weekly to all schools in the five northern counties that wish to participate. Contact Linda Harder at 415-5143 or at lharder@phd1.idaho.gov to join the program.
PHD keeps an updated roster of dentists throughout the five northern counties that accept Medicaid and/or belong to the Regence Caring Foundation. Foundation dentists provide free dental care up to $1,000 to eligible children. Applications are available from the dental hygienist.
Eligibility
Women and children in the WIC program are eligible for dental hygiene services.
Income Eligibility Guidelines
Effective July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2009
No. of Household Members |
Maximum Gross Household Income |
| Per Month Per Year | |
1 |
$1,604 $19,240 |
2 |
$2,159 $25,900 |
3 |
$2,714 $32,560 |
4 |
$3,269 $39,220 |
5 |
$3,824 $45,880 |
6 |
$4,379 $52,540 |
7 |
$4,934 $59,200 |
8 |
$5,489 $65,860 |
For each additional person, add $550/month or $6,660/year |
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MONITORING