Educational Services Depts

Select ---------------------- CD&FS Home Child Development Serv. Community Connection... Network for Children Dental Health Network

KCCDHN Links

Ask a Hygienist
Home
For Centers & Preschools
• For Nurses
For Parents
East Kern Dental Services
For School Staff
KCCDHN Forms
Links
Meet Our Dental Team
Meet Our Staff
News Bites & More
Our Services
Research
Special Needs
En Español
Locate a Dentist for your Child
Oral Health Lending Library

Fast Facts:

California’s children have twice as much untreated decay as their national counterparts.

Only 10% of California’s 8-year olds get sealants for their first permanent molars.

Only 30% of Californians currently receive the benefits of fluoridated water.

Kern County Children’s Dental Health Network
1800 30th Street, Ste. #230
Bakersfield, CA 93301
Tel: 661.377.0322 or 661.377.0323
Fax: 661.377.0329

KCCDHN
Kern County Children's Dental Health Network

Nurse Referral Program

The referral process is easy and children get their decay treated by a local pediatric dentist, free of charge. When a school nurse or health aid identifies a child who has visible decay (watch video), the Nurse Referral/Dental Treatment System can be a link for free dental treatment. The process is simple. Just complete the brief referral form, fax it to our office, and our staff will facilitate an appointment with one of our three local pediatric dentists.

All necessary medical forms and assistance for parents will be completed by phone by our program staff. At the first dental appointment, medical forms will be reviewed and signed by the parent. Translation services, if needed, are also provided.

Upon completion of the child’s dental caries treatment, he/she will also receive a cleaning and a fluoride treatment. If the child has her/his permanent molars, sealants will be applied to prevent decay.
Prior to the child beginning the treatment process, parents will receive dental health education materials that will support maintaining good oral health hygiene for their child. Information will include the importance of caring for baby teeth, proper brushing skills, and the effect fluoride has on preventing and strengthening their child’s teeth. In an effort to support the family in establishing a dental home for their child, we will send a six-month check up reminder notice. The Nurse Referral /Dental Treatment System does not include the cost of six-month visit; yet our program staff is available to link the family to a dentist. To locate a dentist in your area contact Barbara Antongiovanni at 661.377.0328.

The Nurse Referral System is available to children ages 0-5 who have visible decay or are experiencing pain.

Referrals can be submitted throughout the year.

Referral forms are brief and easy to complete.

Staff is bilingual and available to provide information to nurses/health aids and parents.

Referrals can be submitted by fax to 661.377.0329. If you are interested and would like to receive a screening and referral forms, please contact Paula Salcido at 661.377.0322.

Resources

• Nurse Referral Form
  
• Nurse Referral Screening Form
  
• KCCDHN Nurse Referral Program Brochure
  
• PM160 Dental Classification Guide
  The American Dental Association's "Classification of Treatment Needs" is a tool to use when referring children for dental services.
• Identifying Decay in Public Settings Video

Documents listed with are available as PDF (portable document format) files. To be able to read these files, please download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader.