ABCD program

Early access to a dental home and preventive services is crucial for establishing good lifelong oral health habits, preventing tooth decay, and addressing dental issues before they become more serious. Continuing these habits into adulthood helps people maintain good oral health with healthy smiles, and improves overall well-being. Scheduling a dental appointment and establishing a dental home by the first birthday is highly encouraged.

Clark County Public Health supports the Access to Baby & Child Dentistry (ABCD) program connecting children from birth to age 6 with Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) insurance to dentists for preventive dental care. The ABCD program is also available for children aged 0-12 who have a WA Medicaid Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) designation.

ABCD clients receive annually

  • Two dental exams 
  • Three fluoride applications 
  • Restorative care as needed
  • Two education sessions for parents on maintaining their child's dental health

Benefits of early dental visits for kids

  • Ensure baby teeth are healthy
  • Make dental visits a regular part of your child's life
  • Prevent dental pain and disease
  • Provide a positive dental experience
  • Education for parents 
ABCD logo

 

ABCD referral form

ABCD dentists brochure (English)

ABCD dentists brochure (Spanish)

Recursos de salud oral en Español el programa ABCD

Family Dental Connections referral form

Mighty Mouth dentist visit

Healthy snacks

 

Bedtime routines

Handout of list of suggestions for dental hygiene for child at bedtime

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The Mighty Mouth provides new mothers with tips on protecting their child's teeth through their own oral health during pregnancy and early years. It also features videos on children's oral health and offers additional resources to teach young kids about dental care.

The Tooth Snack Guide provides snack ideas that are tasty as well as minimize cavity risk and sticky foods to avoid that cause cavities.

Tooth snack guide - English

Tooth snack guide - Spanish

Opt for nutritious, tasty, colorful snacks. Don’t replace meals with snacks. Watch out for choking hazards or food allergies.

Tooth snack guide - Ukrainian

Tooth snack guide - Russian

Resources for ABCD-eligible children

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After scheduling a dental appointment for your child, you can request a medical interpreter if needed to communicate with the dentist. This service is included under Apple Health coverage.

Multiple languages
Multiple languages

Una vez que usted ha programado una cita dental para su niño(a) usted puede solicitar un Intérprete médico si lo necesita para comunicarse con el dentista. Este servicio lo cubre Apple Health.

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Community in Motion provides non-emergency medical transportation to medical services for individuals covered by Washington state Medicaid (Apple Health).

Community in Motion logo

For more information and details, view a flyer in English or Spanish.

Oral health tips for parents

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With proper oral health care, parents can ensure their children have a healthy smile and lower risk of dental disease as they get older. Parents can prevent tooth decay by:

  • Teaching their children how to brush their teeth
  • Helping their child with brushing until they are 6 to 8 years old
  • Brushing for two minutes, two times each day
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Dental sealants are another tool for preventing tooth decay. Dental sealants are thin plastic-like materials painted on chewing surfaces of molars and premolars to "seal out" germs and food that cause decay and destroy teeth. Sealants are effective, safe, easy to apply, long-lasting and cost effective.

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Fluoride is a safe, natural mineral that helps prevent tooth decay. For children under 8, it strengthens the developing of permanent teeth. Parents should consult their child's dentist for fluoride recommendations.

Fluoridated water area maps in Clark County 2020

Resources for teachers

10 Minutes for Teeth is a simplified curriculum for teachers that is easy to teach and was developed by a dental hygienist. It’s a free oral health education curriculum available thru the Arcora Foundation. The purpose of this curriculum is to teach the importance of oral health to K-6th grade students. It also has optional materials and activities for children with special needs.

Other dental resources

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Brochure with free or low-cost dental resources.

Oral health for people with special needs

Visit the Oral Health for Children with Special Needs page to review suggestions for dental visits with special needs children. On this page, you’ll find details on the advantages of sensory kits and how they support children during dental visits. 

The Washington State Department of Health provides oral health information for people with special needs featuring a dentist directory, fact sheets and other resources.

Additional resources

For more information, email Anna Cruz, ABCD program coordinator. Ingles- Español.