Dental Care for People with Disabilities (Service)

Medicare is a health insurance program for people who are 65 years and older or for people with specific disabilities. Medicare dental coverage is limited; it does not cover most routine dental care or dentures. Medicaid is a state-run program that provides medical benefits, and in some cases dental benefits, to eligible individuals and families. States set their own guidelines regarding who is eligible and what services are covered. Most states provide limited emergency dental services for people age 21 or over, while some offer comprehensive services. For most individuals under the age of 21, dental services are provided under medicaid. Dental health is an important part of people's overall health. States are required to provide dental benefits to children covered by medicaid and the children's health insurance program (chip), but states choose whether to provide dental benefits for adults. See the 2010 medicaid/chip oral health services fact sheet (pdf, 49. 06 kb)  for information on children's access to dental services and opportunities and challenges to obtaining care. Donated dental services (dds) provides free dental care to people with disabilities, people who are considered to be medically fragile, and older adults. Dds operates in each state, and you

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Dental Implants: What You Should Know

Before choosing dental implants, talk to your dental provider about the potential benefits and risks, and whether you are a candidate for the procedure. Things to consider: your overall health is an important factor in determining whether you are a good candidate for dental implants, how long it will take to heal, and how long the implant may stay in place. Ask your dental provider what brand and model of dental implant system is being used and keep this information for your records. Smoking may affect the healing process and decrease the long-term success of the implant. The healing process for the implant body may take several months or longer, during which time you typically have a temporary abutment in place of the tooth. How to prepare for a dental implant? surgery for dental implantation to the jaws is often done under local anesthesia, so there is no need to fast before surgery. After surgery in the oral cavity (including surgery for dental implantation to the jaws), it is forbidden to eat for two hours before surgery. It is permissible to eat a light meal before surgery. Often, the doctor recommends taking antibiotics about an hour before a dental implant

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