Oral Disease Identification and Prevention
Caries Prevention
Dental caries (tooth decay) is fully preventable, yet it remains a major public health challenge. For children, untreated cavities can cause pain, difficulty concentrating in school, school absences and poor appearance – all of which can greatly affect a child’s quality of life and ability to succeed. Dental caries affects children in the United States more than any other chronic infectious disease. The problem is even greater in Nevada.
Through Nevada Dental Benefits’ participation with local health fairs, we have been able to directly reach hundreds of children and families and provide sealants, fluoride varnish, oral screenings, educational materials, toothbrushes, floss and toothpaste. We are able to identify children that are in need of emergency dental care and get them into a network dental office the same day. We are also able to work with their parents to find a dental home to care for the dental needs of the entire family. We believe this will lead to a positive oral health care experience and future of good oral health.
Oral Cancer Awareness Open Wide and Look Inside! This is the theme of Nevada Dental Benefits’ Oral Cancer Awareness Campaign. Based on available evidence, when diagnosed at an early stage oral cancer has a better prognosis. Our initiative is aimed at bringing increased awareness to members and NDB network providers about the importance of receiving an annual oral cancer evaluation by a dentist and performing a monthly self-evaluation.
Nevada Dental Benefit’s mobile dental unit “Brusha” provides regular, free oral cancer screenings to its members and education on how to perform a monthly self-check. Early detection of oral cancer is often possible. Tissue changes in the mouth that might signal the beginnings of cancer can often be seen and felt easily. Performing a monthly self-check for Oral Cancer could save your life. It is important to have any sore or discolored area of your mouth, which does not heal within 14 days, looked at by your dentist. Most often, these symptoms are not from oral cancer. Other health problems can cause them. Anyone with these symptoms should tell their doctor or dentist so that problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.
Through Nevada Dental Benefits’ participation with local health fairs, we have been able to directly reach hundreds of children and families and provide sealants, fluoride varnish, oral screenings, educational materials, toothbrushes, floss and toothpaste. We are able to identify children that are in need of emergency dental care and get them into a network dental office the same day. We are also able to work with their parents to find a dental home to care for the dental needs of the entire family. We believe this will lead to a positive oral health care experience and future of good oral health.
Oral Cancer Awareness Open Wide and Look Inside! This is the theme of Nevada Dental Benefits’ Oral Cancer Awareness Campaign. Based on available evidence, when diagnosed at an early stage oral cancer has a better prognosis. Our initiative is aimed at bringing increased awareness to members and NDB network providers about the importance of receiving an annual oral cancer evaluation by a dentist and performing a monthly self-evaluation.
Nevada Dental Benefit’s mobile dental unit “Brusha” provides regular, free oral cancer screenings to its members and education on how to perform a monthly self-check. Early detection of oral cancer is often possible. Tissue changes in the mouth that might signal the beginnings of cancer can often be seen and felt easily. Performing a monthly self-check for Oral Cancer could save your life. It is important to have any sore or discolored area of your mouth, which does not heal within 14 days, looked at by your dentist. Most often, these symptoms are not from oral cancer. Other health problems can cause them. Anyone with these symptoms should tell their doctor or dentist so that problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.