CE/CME
Oral Evaluation and Fluoride Varnish
Welcome to the training on Oral Evaluation and Fluoride Varnish provided by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).
Credit Hours: 1.00 CE
EnrollTo enroll in this course, please log in or create a new account if you are not already registered.
Completing this course is a required prerequisite to applying for certification as an Oral Evaluation and Fluoride Varnish provider.
In order to be certified to bill Medicaid for Oral Evaluation and Fluoride Varnish services, you must be enrolled as a provider in Texas Medicaid and Texas Health Steps. Enroll online through the Texas Medicaid & Healthcare Partnership Provider Enrollment portal: Provider Enrollment | TMHP
You must also complete the following requirements:
- Complete this Oral Evaluation and Fluoride Varnish training and obtain a CE training certificate.
- Submit an Oral Evaluation and Fluoride Varnish Certification Application (fillable PDF) to be certified as an Oral Evaluation and Fluoride Varnish provider.
- Include your Individual or Group National Provider Identifier (NPI) number on the form.
The completed application form and CE training certificate should be emailed to THStepsOEFV.FDH@hhsc.state.tx.us. Alternatively, the completed form and CE training certificate can be faxed to 512-483-3979.
Completion of this training is recommended for all members of a provider’s team who will be assisting with Oral Evaluation and Fluoride Varnish services.
Providers must be certified only once to provide Oral Evaluation and Fluoride Varnish services. There is no requirement to retake the training or submit a new application. However, providers are eligible to receive CE credit for taking this training every 12 months. In addition, the training is updated every three years to include policy and clinical changes. Providers and staff members may wish to retake the training to maintain proficiency in providing services.
Goal
The goal of this module is to equip Texas Health Steps providers and others with best practices for promoting oral health in children 6 through 35 months of age, including the importance of becoming certified to provide Oral Evaluation and Fluoride Varnish OEFV services.
Target Audience
Texas Health Steps providers and other interested health care professionals.
Specific Learning Objectives
After completing the activities of this module, you will be able to:
- Examine the prevalence, impact and disease process of dental caries.
- Summarize how the OEFV service promotes oral health for children ages 6 months through 35 months.
- Integrate effective dental caries prevention and intervention strategies as part of routine medical care.
Please note this module expires on 3/22/2027.
This module was released on 3/22/2024.
Featured
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. (2023). Caries-risk assessment and management for infants, children, and adolescents. The Reference Manual of Pediatric Dentistry. Chicago, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry; 2023:301-7.
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. (2023). Management of dental patients with special health care needs. The Reference Manual of Pediatric Dentistry. Chicago, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry; 2023:337-44.
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. (2023). Policy on use of xylitol in pediatric dentistry. The Reference Manual of Pediatric Dentistry. Chicago, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry; 2023:113-4.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). My Water’s Fluoride.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Cavities.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Community Water Fluoridation: Water Fluoridation Basics.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Oral Health Surveillance Report.
Krol, D. M., Whelan, K., & the Section on Oral Health. (2023). Maintaining and Improving the Oral Health of Young Children. Pediatrics; 151 (1): e2022060417. 10.1542/peds.2022-060417.
Meek, J. Y., Noble, L., & Section on Breastfeeding. (2022). Policy Statement: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk. Pediatrics July 2022; 150 (1): e2022057988.
Moynihan, P. (2016). Sugars and Dental Caries: Evidence for Setting a Recommended Threshold for Intake. Advances in Nutrition;7(1):149-56.
U.S. Public Health Service. (2023). Community Water Fluoridation: Public Health Service Recommendation.
World Health Organization. (2020). Healthy Diet.
World Health Organization. (2015). Guideline: Sugars Intake for Adults and Children.
Medical Definitions
The medical definitions in this module were adapted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MedicineNet.com, Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the World Health Organization and the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Continuing Medical Education
The Texas Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service is accredited by the Texas Medical Association to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The Texas Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Continuing Nursing Education
The Texas Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. The Texas Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service has awarded 1.00 contact hour(s) of Continuing Nursing Education.
Social Workers
The Texas Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service, the continuing education provider, ensures that the education provided is directly related to the practice of social work; and that the individuals presenting the information have the necessary experience and knowledge in the topics presented. The Texas Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service has awarded 1.00 hours of credit.
Certificate of Attendance
The Texas Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service has designated 1.00 hour(s) for attendance.
Certified Community Health Worker
The Texas Department of State Health Services, Promotor(a)/Community Health Worker Training and Certification Program has certified this course for 1.00 contact hour(s) of continuing education for Certified Community Health Workers and Community Health Worker Instructors.
General Disclosure
One of the requirements of continuing education is disclosure of the following information to the learner:
- Notice of requirements for successful completion of continuing education activity. To receive continuing education credit the learner must successfully complete the following activities:
- Create a Texas Health Steps account.
- Complete on-line registration process.
- Thoroughly read the content of the module.
- Complete the on-line examination.
- Complete the evaluation.
- Commercial Support.
The THSTEPS Web-based Continuing Education Series has received no commercial support. - Disclosure of Relevant Financial Relationships.
The THSTEPS Continuing Education Planning Committee and the authors of these modules have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. - Non-Endorsement Statement.
Accredited status does not imply endorsement of any commercial products or services by the Department of State Health Services, Continuing Education Service; Texas Medical Association; or American Nurse Credentialing Center. - Off-Label Use.
Using a disclosure review process, the THSTEPS Continuing Education Planning Committee has examined documents and has concluded that the authors of these modules have not included content that discusses off-label use (use of products for a purpose other than that for which they were approved by the Food and Drug Administration).
The following are policies and definitions of terms related to continuing education disclosure:
The intent of disclosure is to allow Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Continuing Education Service the opportunity to resolve any potential conflicts of interest to assure balance, independence, objectivity and scientific rigor in all of its Continuing Education activities.
All faculty, planners, speakers and authors of Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Continuing Education Service sponsored activities are expected to disclose to the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Continuing Education Service any relevant financial, relationships with any commercial or personal interest that produces health care goods or services concerned with the content of an educational presentation. Faculty, planners, speakers and authors must also disclose where there are any other potentially biasing relationships of a professional or personal nature.
Glossary of Terms
Conflict of Interest: Circumstances create a conflict of interest when an individual has an opportunity to affect Continuing Education content about products or services of a commercial interest with which she/he has a financial relationship or where there are any other potentially biasing relationships of a professional or personal nature.
Commercial Interest: Any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients.
Financial Relationships: Those relationships in which the individual benefits by receiving a salary, royalty, intellectual property rights, consulting fee, honoraria, ownership interest (e.g., stocks, stock options or other ownership interest, excluding diversified mutual funds), or other financial benefit. Financial benefits are usually associated with roles such as employment, management position, independent contractor (including contracted research), consulting, teaching, membership on advisory committees or review panels, board membership, and other activities for which remuneration is received or expected. Relevant financial relationships would include those within the past 12 months of the person involved in the activity and a spouse or partner. Relevant financial relationships of your spouse or partner are those of which you are aware at the time of this disclosure.
Off Label: Using products for a purpose other that that for which it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
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Resources
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2023). Oral Health Campaign Toolkit.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). My Water’s Fluoride.
Children’s Medicaid and Texas Health Steps. To learn more about eligibility, benefits, and services through this partnership, visit Children’s Medicaid and CHIP or Texas Health Steps or call toll-free 877-847-8377 (877-THSTEPS).
Journal of Dental Hygiene. (2011). Critical Issues in Dental Hygiene—Oral Health Literacy in the Dental Office: The Unrecognized Patient Risk Factor. Offers a chart with plain-language terms to substitute for dental and medical terms.
Texas Department of State Health Services. Oral Health Improvement Program.
Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Anticipatory Guidance – A Guide for Providers.
Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) Services Program.
Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Keep Your Child Smiling.
Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Managed Care Organization and Dental Maintenance Organization Provider Services Contact Information.
Dental managed care plans.
- DentaQuest: 800-896-2374
- MCNA Dental: 855-776-6262 (855-PRO-MCNA)
- United HealthCare Dental: 800-822-5353
Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Oral Evaluation and Fluoride Varnish Certification Application
Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Oral Evaluation and Fluoride Varnish in the Medical Home.
Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Texas Health Steps Periodicity Schedule.
Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Texas Health Steps Oral Evaluation and Fluoride Varnish in the Medical Home Visit Documentation
Texas Medicaid and Healthcare Partnership. Texas Medicaid Provider Procedures Manual.
Texas Medicaid & Healthcare Partnership. Provider search to find Medicaid-enrolled dentists in your area.
2-1-1 Texas (or dial 2-1-1). Information from more than 60,000 state and local health and human services programs.
Share with patients and families
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry:
American Academy of Pediatrics:
- Oral Health Resources for Families.
- healthychildren.org. Oral Health.
American Dental Association:
- Find Dental Care for Your Kids.
- Mouth Healthy. Healthy Habits.