Dental Health
DHD#10 provides outreach and education to residents on oral health, helps navigate families to dental homes, and helps reduce barriers to accessing dental care. The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program provides fluoride varnish application to reduce the risk of early childhood cavities.
Children’s Fluoride Varnish Program
Tooth decay is the most common and preventable chronic disease of childhood. Children as young as 12 months can experience early tooth decay. The Fluoride Varnish Program services families and children ages 0-5 years enrolled in the DHD#10 WIC and home visiting programs. Family Health Registered Nurses provide dental screenings, apply fluoride varnish, and refer children to local dentists for continued dental care.
Why is Fluoride Important?
Fluoride varnish is a protective coating that is painted on teeth to help prevent new cavities and to help stop cavities that have already started. The American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) consider fluoride varnish to be a safe and effective as part of a caries prevention program.
Healthy Kids’ Dental
The Healthy Kids Dental program (HKD) helps children with Medicaid have healthy, happy smiles at NO cost to you. For more information on the Healthy Kids Dental Program, click here.
Find a Dentist Near You
Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment (KOHA)
The State of Michigan has implemented a Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment Program (KOHA). This dental assessment may be performed by a Dentist, Registered Dental Hygienist, or a Dental Therapist. DHD#10 works in partnership with the Health Department of Northwest Michigan to provide this service at no cost to you. There is no need to schedule an appointment, they will be visiting the school during kindergarten round ups, health fairs, or in the fall once your child starts kindergarten. If you prefer to have your dental provider do the screening – just take the KOHA Assessment Form to your dentist to have them fill it out and then return a copy to the school. For more information, call (231) 547-7628 or visit Health Department of Northwest Michigan.