Children

Fact: 8 Out of 10 Nevada Children Suffer with
Untreated Tooth Decay.

Untreated oral diseases are so common amongst our low-income youth, the Department of Health and Human Services calls it an “epidemic..”

Why at-risk children don’t receive dental care

These children endure worsening oral health decay because they simply have no choice. They don’t have access to preventive or general dentistry for three main reasons:

1. They can’t afford it
2. Their insurance doesn’t cover it
3. If they have Medicaid or Nevada Check Up and they can’t find a dental provider who accepts it

In desperation, many turn to hospital emergency rooms for relief. These costly visits cost our community an estimated $4 million/year.  

Since ERs aren’t designed for dental emergencies, many children leave with prescription medications to relieve pain or infection. But their tooth decay still exists.

How we help

Healthy Smile Healthy Child services include preventive care to help children maintain healthy teeth and gums. Thus minimizing future and costly treatment later.

Services include

• Preventive dental care education
• Preventive oral health care (i.e., sealants, nutritional education, teeth cleaning, etc.)
• General and specialty oral health care (i.e., root canals, fillings, crowns, orthodontics, etc.)

Who qualifies for Healthy Smile Healthy Child

We provide no-cost to low-cost dental care to northern Nevada’s at-risk youth 18-years of age and younger. Children who are uninsured, with Medicaid or Nevada Check Up. We’re the largest program in Nevada serving uninsured children.

To qualify, the child must

• Live in northern Nevada
• Be 18-years old or younger
• Qualify for Nevada Medicaid, Nevada Check Up (SCHIP)
• If uninsured, they must have a combined family income totaling less than 200% of the federal poverty level
• Proof of income
• Proof of address
• Proof of family composition

*To apply, please call to make an appointment or for more information at 775.982.7989 or email Norma.estrada@nndhp.org

*Para aplicar, por favor llame para programar una cita ó para más información al 775.982.7989 ó email Norma.estrada@nndhp.org

How a child’s overall health starts in their mouth

Oral health affects your whole body’s health. Because as bacteria grows, it weakens your immune system. This can worsen existing health issues and increase risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and even cancer.

Tooth decay often makes eating painful

As children eat less, their bodies don’t get the nutrients needed to fight off their growing bacteria load. In time, this can lead to chronic diseases.

6 ways oral health decay affects a child’s health

1. Impacts their growth and development
2. Affects their ability to focus and learn in school
3. Increases their frequency of catching colds and flu
4. Lowers their self-esteem and confidence
5. Raises their risk of developing other diseases
6. Worsens existing health conditions like allergies, asthma,  diabetes, etc.

http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/reports/0001/01/01/the-cost-of-delay
http://health.nv.gov/CC_OralHealth.htm
http://health.nv.gov/Cancer/BurdenOralDisease2012.pdf
http://healthjournalism.org/blog/2014/04/lack-of-access-to-dental-care-leads-to-expensive-emergency-room-care/