Community Minded Enterprises (CME), EWU Department of Dental Hygiene, and CHAS are partnering to relaunch the Recovering Smiles program. Recovering Smiles connects clients in recovery to oral health services. Learn more >>
Read MoreAccess to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD) Pediatric Champion
/Dr. Jared Evans of KiDDS Dental has been the pediatric champion for the ABCD/E program in the Spokane region since 2009. A critical part of this role is to provide the Oral Health for Infants and Toddlers provider training required for ABCD certification. Learn More >>
Read MoreMedical Dental Integration in Pediatric Primary Care
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Smile Spokane and Arcora, through the Local Impact Network, currently work with the three largest systems in Spokane to integrate pediatric preventive oral health services into the pediatric primary care workflow. Find out more in this update.
Read MoreAn Integrated Approach to Transform Oral Health
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October is Health Literacy Month. Because Spokane does not fluoridate its water supply, our region has higher rates of cavities and oral health issues. For that reason, we partner with our network manager Better Health Together to invest in strategies to transform oral health care and advance water fluoridation in our community.
Read MoreOral Health Is Important for Overall Health
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In honor of National Health Center Week, we celebrate our partner CHAS Health. In this month’s blog, Dr. Marcus Baca, a primary care pediatrician and director of pediatric health at CHAS Health, explains why oral health is so important to overall health. Through Smile Spokane’s Medical-Dental Integration Strategy, Arcora Foundation provides training, tools, and technical assistance to medical teams at CHAS Health, Providence, and MultiCare with the goal to help integrate oral health screenings into well-child care visits. Oral disease, an almost entirely preventable condition, is largely ignored by the current health system until the teeth or gums deteriorate to the point that they require aggressive, expensive, and painful interventions. Our Medical-Dental Integration Strategy is working to change that.
Read MoreDentistLink Connects Patients to Oral Health Care
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People who earn less than $17,775 a year are eligible to enroll in Apple Health (Medicaid) insurance, which covers dental care. Unfortunately, that doesn't always mean they are able to access dental care they need. In fact, in Spokane in 2020, only 24% of adults with Apple Health saw a dentist. Smile Spokane’s Access Strategy seeks to close that gap and help more people get the care they need.
Read MoreHelping Children Access Oral Health Care in Schools
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We want to celebrate our Sealants Strategy in honor of National Children’s Dental Health Month! Tooth pain and cavities can make kids more likely to miss school and more likely to earn below-average grades. Luckily, Communities in Schools Spokane County and ToothSavers of Washington have partnered with Smile Spokane to provide sealants to kids in elementary schools. When we prevent cavities, kids stay in school, focused on achieving good grades, which supports their long-term success in life.
Read MoreBuilding Oral Health Equity in Spokane
/Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) program staff helps eligible kids access ABCD-certified dentists by providing case management and technical assistance. If a child has Apple Health (Medicaid), they are eligible to receive services through the ABCD program.
Read MoreDiabetes Awareness Month
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November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Good oral health is especially important for people with diabetes, who are 3x more likely to have gum disease. As part of Smile Spokane’s Care Coordination Strategy, Aging and Long Term Care of Eastern Washington connects people with diabetes to oral health providers who take Apple Health Medicaid. Accessing dental services helps people with diabetes manage the health of their mouth.
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