Dental Policies
Dental Hygiene Schedule Policy
Active duty service members assigned to NHCH are provided with one oral prophylaxis (dental cleaning) every 12 months. Oral prophylaxis is a dental procedure, and there are no statutory requirements that dictate the frequency of these treatments.
- The treatment needs and frequency are based on the provider’s recommendation and clinical findings.
- Dental procedures at NHCH are prioritized based on the patients’ needs, urgency, available staff and capability in the Direct Care and Purchased Care systems.
- Appropriate prioritization and resourcing of warfighter oral health care driving oral health and readiness is critical to mission success.
Some patients may be treatment planned for periodontal maintenance and be prescribed dental cleanings at an increased frequency (multiple times per year). Those who qualify for increased periodicity meet the following criteria:
- Have been evaluated by a periodontist within the last 12 months;
- Have been treated for periodontal disease and are currently on a periodontal maintenance schedule;
- Have a written recommendation for increased dental cleaning frequency, which is annotated in the dental treatment note and treatment plan by a periodontist;
- Or have been classified as ‘Dental Readiness Class 3’ due to requiring urgent dental prophylaxis.
We don't have the available staff within the dental directorate at the command to support the direct care of dental cleanings at an increased frequency of more than once a year for each patient. To ensure equity and fairness amongst our active duty service members, we limit the frequency of dental cleanings to once every year unless a patient meets the criteria stated above. Routine dental hygiene appointments will not be referred to the network, unless there is an urgent dental need or the clinic’s access to care for dental cleanings is greater than 180 days.