AdministrativeDentalMarch 1, 2025

Enhance pediatric oral health with the dental home model

Dental providers play a crucial role in successfully establishing an oral care routine. Providers should use the dental home model, which focuses on enhancing overall wellness by improving oral health, fostering greater collaboration among providers, and promoting health education. In addition, children with a dental home are more likely to receive preventive and routine dental care.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) encourages parents and other care providers to help every child establish a dental home by age one. The AAPD states a dental home should contain:

  • Comprehensive oral health care, including acute care and preventive services in accordance with AAPD periodicity schedules.
  • Comprehensive assessment for oral diseases and conditions.
  • Individualized preventive dental health program based upon a caries‑risk assessment and a periodontal disease risk assessment.
  • Anticipatory guidance about growth and development issues (for example, teething, digit, or pacifier habits).
  • Plan for acute dental trauma.
  • Information about proper care of pediatric teeth and gingivae. This includes the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease of the supporting and surrounding tissues and the maintenance of health, function, and esthetics of those structures and tissues.
  • Dietary counseling.
  • Referrals to dental specialists as needed.
  • Education regarding future referrals to dentists specializing in adult oral health issues to continue oral health care throughout adulthood.
  • Referrals for dental care, or specialists at an age determined by patient, parent, and pediatric dentist.

Creating a dental home for members can significantly enhance access to care, ensure effective care coordination, and provide high‑quality dental services. We encourage providers to inform members during their initial visit about the advantages of having a dental home. Once this relationship is established, it can develop into a lasting positive oral healthcare connection.

Anthem Blue Cross is the trade name of: In California: Blue Cross of California and Blue Cross of California Partnership Plan, Inc. Anthem BC Health Insurance Company is the trade name of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. Blue Cross of California, Blue Cross of California Partnership Plan, Inc., Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Company, and Anthem BC Health Insurance Company are independent licensees of the Blue Cross Association. In 11 northeastern counties of New York: Anthem HealthChoice Assurance, Inc. and Anthem HealthChoice HMO, Inc. In these same counties, Anthem Blue Cross Retiree Solutions is the trade name of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. Independent licensees of the Blue Cross Association. Anthem is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc.

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PUBLICATIONS: March 2025 Dental Provider Newsletter