Healthy Teeth Mean a Healthy You By Jill Jesso-White on February 6, 2018 in Community Health News February Is Children’s Dental Health Month at CHCRR Community Dental Community Health Centers of the Rutland Region (CHCRR) provides primary care and dental services in both Shoreham and Rutland to make sure that healthy teeth are part of everyone’s general health routine from babies to seniors. Did you know that your teeth are a barometer for how healthy you are? Community Dental’s Dr. Rachel Rivard believes that all people deserve access to a beautiful smile and teeth they can be proud of. One of Dr. Rivard’s specific interests is pediatric dentistry. “Keeping kids cavity free at a young age has been linked to a lifetime of good oral health,” she said. From the time a child is born, there are ways to promote healthy teeth and prevent cavities like cleaning teeth with a soft, clean cloth or baby’s toothbrush, and avoiding putting a baby to bed with a bottle. CHCRR’s dentists say at the eruption of the first tooth, parents should start to brush their children’s teeth with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Parents can limit sweet snacks and drinks and schedule regular check-ups. Both the Vermont Department of Health and CHCRR stress that dental health needs to be integrated into family health practice and taken into account for all age groups. “Oral health is an important part of overall health that is especially true for Vermonters who have diabetes, coronary artery disease, cerebral vascular disease or who are pregnant. Even though preventative dental care is covered by Medicaid in Vermont, only about 26% of adult Vermonters insured by Medicaid access dental care annually, and only about 50% of children,” according to the Department of Health website. Community Health Centers of the Rutland Region serves all patients regardless of income or insurance status. Discounts for essential services provided by CHCRR are offered on a sliding fee scale basis adjusted for family size and income. Dentists are available Monday through Friday from 7:30am – 5:00pm. Call for an appointment. Community Dental Shorewell (802) 897-7000 Community Dental Rutland (802) 774-5050 CHCRR is central Vermont’s largest network of primary care, pediatric and dental services with offices in Rutland, Brandon, Castleton, West Pawlet and Shoreham. Community Dental offices are located in Rutland and Shoreham, CHCRR Pediatrics is in Rutland and CHCRR’s Express Care centers, open 7 days a week, are located at the Rutland and Castleton Community Health Centers.
