AHS offers free oral health services for children

SOUTH ZONE — April is Oral Health Month and Alberta Health Services would like to remind parents and guardians about oral health services available for children at Community Health sites around the South Zone.

Fluoride varnish applications are free of charge for eligible Alberta youngsters aged 12 to 35 months. This service consists of a thin coating of fluoride varnish painted on teeth, with a small disposable brush, that takes less than a minute to apply. Parents can hold their children during the application if they wish. Fluoride is a safe and effective way to prevent tooth decay.

Fluoride applications are recommended for children twice a year to help stop cavities that may have already started and prevent new ones from forming. Cavities can cause pain and affect a child’s eating, speaking, playing, sleeping, and learning.

Alberta Health Services staff can also assess your child’s oral health and offer advice about brushing, flossing and other practices required for good oral health.

For more information, or to book an appointment please contact your local Community Health Office: (see list below of all sites in zone)

For online oral health information, go to www.MyHealth.Alberta.ca and search the term “basic dental care.” You can also visit our website at www.ahs.ca/oralhealth and click on Fluoride Protection for Toddlers.

Following is a list of Community Health Sites in South Zone:

Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.