Illinois Oral Health Toolkit

Oral health is a key component of overall health and optimal health can be maintained or improved for all individuals by improving knowledge, nutrition, self-care practices, and timely professional care.  However, for many individuals and communities’ getting timely professional care services is difficult.  Inadequate self-care, high-risk diet, lack of knowledge, and limited access to professional care can result in uncontrolled dental caries and periodontal disease. These experiences, during gestation and early childhood, impact life-long health and wellbeing.

The Illinois Oral Health Toolkit is essential information for all providers, individuals, families, and organizations that work to improve the oral health status of Illinoisans. The Toolkit gathers accessible training topics developed by national, state, and local experts including anticipatory oral health guidance, risk factor assessment, flipchart, and PowerPoint presentation. The Toolkit includes information on accessing oral health care in Illinois with a special section on covered benefits in the Illinois Medicaid Dental Program for children and adults. It also provides contact information for transportation assistance to attend health care appointments.