About Us:

I-Smile is based on the Iowa legislative mandate that states, “By July 1, 2008, every recipient of medical assistance who is a child twelve year of age or younger shall have a designated dental home and shall be provided with the dental screenings and preventive care identified in the oral health standards under EPSDT.”

We are here to help all children within Woodbury County find a dentist to help them get the dental care that they need.

Who:

· All children between the ages of 0-12,including those on Medicaid

· Prenatal women with medical assistance.

Where:

· Daycares

· Preschools

· Elementary Schools

· Middle Schools

· Select Agencies

· Fairs

· Free Events

Services:

A dental hygienist will come out and perform dental screenings with portable dental equipment. The hygienist will look for signs of tooth decay and will report back to the parents her findings. Then, the hygienist will apply a fluoride varnish to all the surfaces of the teeth to help protect them from getting cavities and prevent existing cavities from getting any bigger. (Scroll down to find out what fluoride varnish is). Finally, the child will be educated on how to take care of their teeth from brushing, flossing, dietary habits, bottle and sippy cup use, etc.

After the service is performed, the hygienist will keep in contact with the child’s family and make sure that he/she visits their local dentist. If the child does not see a dentist, the dental hygienist will help them find one. She will also ensure that there are no barriers keeping them from seeing their dentist such as transportation, child care or language.

Protect Your Child From

“Baby Bottle Tooth Decay”

Always wipe the inside of your baby’s mouth after breast milk or formula feedings with a moist washcloth.

Once the first tooth comes in, help brush your child’s teeth with a small and soft toothbrush before bedtime.

To prevent baby bottle tooth decay, avoid putting your baby to bed with a bottle and do not let your child drink from a bottle all day long

Try to wean your baby from the bottle by age 10-12 months.

Don’t put anything from your mouth into your child’s mouth to avoid the spread of bacteria. (pacifier, spoon or nipple)

Avoid pop and sugary drinks. Limit juice and milk to meal times.

Make sure your child has a well balanced diet and limit their juice intake to 4-6 oz. per day.

Fluoride Varnish

· Fluoride Varnish is a sticky substance that is applied two to three times a year.

· Fluoride Varnish helps prevent decay from forming on teeth and can stop cavities from getting any bigger.

· Studies have shown that it reduces the decay rate by 25-45% in children.

· Once it is painted on, it is not to be brushed off for at least 4 hrs.