Vermont 802 Smiles Network | Vermont Department of Health

The 802 Smiles Network connects Vermont's various school dental health programs under one umbrella. Its goal is to eliminate oral health disparities and improve oral health for all Vermont children. Since its creation in 2017, schools from all over Vermont have become members, solidifying their commitment to increasing access to dental care for children.

802 Smiles Network Mission: To bring together students, school nurses and staff, communities, and health care providers to support access to care and the best possible oral health for all Vermont children.

802 Smiles Network Vision: All children in Vermont schools will have the best possible oral health.

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5 Tiers of School-Based Dental Services

The 802 Smiles Network is made up of five tiers that align with the range of dental services offered. The highest Tiers (4 and 5) offer the most services, although organizations in every tier play an important part in helping kids access dental care.

Tier 1 focuses on referring children to a dental provider, plus student dental health education, on-site dental screenings, and preventive fluoride varnish application in some schools.

Tier 2 includes all the services of Tier 1, plus transportation to and from dental appointments.

Tier 3 includes dental referrals, student dental education and screenings, plus fluoride varnish and silver diamine fluoride (SDF) applications.

Tier 4 provides on-site preventive dental health services like cleanings, SDF, and sealants. For more on these preventive treatments, review this comparison doc on fluoride varnish, SDF, and sealants.

Tier 5 provides a range of in-school preventive and restorative dental services; it is essentially a dental office in a school.

Download a PDF version of the 802 Smiles Network's tiers and services.

Schools participating in the 802 Smiles Network fall into different tiers. Click to learn more about what's provided within each tier.

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Health Professionals: click here to download a more detailed version of the 802 Smiles tiers and services.

Vermont Program Enrollment in the 802 Smiles Network

Number of schools and Head Start sites participating in 802 Smiles and their Tiers in the 2023-2024 school year.

Get Involved with 802 Smiles

Members receive startup supplies, technical assistance and local support implementing school-based dental programs at whatever tier that works for them. Members commit to providing the Office of Oral Health with data regarding their program.

Are you an educator or school or daycare professional?
Get in touch to learn more about joining the 802 Smiles Network

Are you a dental health care professional looking to work with the 802 Smiles Network?
Contact us to learn about opportunities

Show your support for the 802 Smiles Network by adding a web badge to your website, email signature or social media accounts!
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Resources for 802 Smiles Programs

To both new and continuing members and dental providers: Thanks for being a part of this important initiative. The following resources are what your program will need to get 802 Smiles off the ground.

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Get consent forms in العربية (Arabic) | Bosanski (Bosnian) | မြန်မာစာ (Burmese) | 简体字 (Chinese - Simplified) | دری (Dari) | English | Farsi | Français (French) | Kirundi (Ikirundi) Maay Maay || नेपाली (Nepali) português (Portuguese) | پښتو (Pashto) | Soomaali (Somali) | Kiswahili (Swahili) | Español (Spanish) | Telugu (తెలుగు) | Thai (ภาษาไทย) | Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)

Forms & Resources
[REQUIRED] Consent Form for Tier 1 & 2 Programs: It is mandatory that these forms be filled out by parents or guardians for students to receive care.
[REQUIRED] Consent Form for Tier 3: It is mandatory that these forms be filled out by parents or guardians for students to receive care.
[REQUIRED] Consent Form for Tier 4 : It is mandatory that these forms be filled out by parents or guardians for students to receive care.
[REQUIRED] SDF Consent Form: Use this form when getting SDF consent from parents/caregivers.
[NEW] How to fill the 802 Smiles Consent Form: this short video explains each section of the consent form and the steps to complete it.
[REQUIRED] Report on Dental Findings Form: The Vermont Board of Dental Examiners requires use of this form when reporting findings to parents/caregivers. With the guardian's consent, a copy of this form is also sent to the dentist that the child is being referred to (or to the child's dental home, if they already have one).
[REQUIRED] General Supervision Form: A PDF form to print and use. It is required by the Vermont Board of Dental Examiners for RDHs working in public health settings under General Supervision.
[NEW] Silver Diamine Fluoride Factsheet: Learn more about SDF (Silver Diamine Fluoride) and when to use it. Document in العربیة (Arabic) \| नेपाली (Nepali) \| Español (Spanish).
Video about SDF from PBS NewsHour: This 8-minute video from PBS discusses the benefits of using Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) for tooth decay, compared to invasive drilling procedures.
Comparison Document on Fluoride Varnish, SDF & Sealants: This PDF explains the difference between the various procedures and how they related to the 802 Smiles Network programs.
[TEMPLATE] Letter from the School Principal to Parents/Guardians: This letter welcomes parents and guardians to 802 Smiles while explaining its tiers and benefits. The template can be customized to fit each school’s leadership and services offered.
802 Smiles FAQ for Oral Health Care Providers

Guidance Documents
Screening and Calibration Guidelines
[NEW] Guidance for Tier 1 & 2 Programs
[NEW] Guidance for Tier 3 & 4 Programs
Infection Control and Safety Precautions: from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); applies to all settings where healthcare is delivered.
How to Select Portable Equipment and Supplies: The National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center’s Seal America Initiative contains information on how to select, purchase and set up portable dental equipment. Please note: many preventive procedures can be performed without the need for specialized dental equipment.

Laws & Regulations
HIPAA/FERPA: This joint guidance, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services & the Department of Education, plus the ASTHO fact sheet, contain important information regarding the sharing of information, privacy and more.
VT Dental-Related Laws and Statutes: Check out laws and statutes related to dental health care providers in Vermont.
VT Administrative Rules from the Vermont Board of Dental Examiners: Note that these are current as of 2024 but will be updated in the near future.
DCF’s Mandated Reporting website: This website includes required Mandated Reporter Training.

Helpful Resources & Tips

Medicaid Billing and Insurance Information

Dental hygienists in Vermont can enroll as Medicaid providers if they wish to bill independently for the services they provide. View the VT Medicaid Dental Fee Schedule - to see the current reimbursement fees, enter the appropriate Procedure Code (e.g., D1351 for Sealant). See the Dental Supplement for dental procedure codes and additional information.
Webinar: VT Medicaid Application Walkthrough for Independently Billing Dental Hygienists - November 2023
Answers to questions on Medicaid billing or enrollment from qualified representatives.
It is strongly recommended that all 802 Smiles Network dental providers carry professional liability insurance. Medicaid providers are required to carry liability insurance. The American Dental Hygienists’ Association provides information and discounts on professional liability insurance plans for members.

Training & Continuing Education

Webinar on updated strategies to prevent and arrest dental decay through minimally invasive treatments such as SDF and glass ionomer-based materials.
Dental Sealants in the COVID-19 World, pre-recorded by NNOHA (National Network for Oral Health Access), this video presents the rationale for continuing to place sealants while producing minimal aerosols. Download the accompanying slides here.
CDC's training, Foundations: Building the Safest Dental Visit, is free of charge and offers 6 CE credits.
The Infection Prevention and Control Guide for School Sealant Programs is offered by the ADS, Association for Dental Safety (previously the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention).
Earn free CEs from these courses on Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) and other topics relevant to your work. Offered by Elevate Oral Care
Check out this Oral Health Services for Children and Adolescents with Special Health Care Needs booklet by the National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center
Cultural Competency & Sensitivity for Oral Health Professionals training, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, grants 6 CE credits and is free of charge.
802 Smiles 2022 Annual Meeting presentations: the latest on dental caries, 802 Smiles 2021-2022 data, and updates on dental sealants.
Glass Ionomer Sealants Refresher Training - October 2023. NOTE: This training has been approved for 3 CE credits. To be eligible for credits, you must: (1) watch the recording, (2) take this short survey, and (3) attend a short hands-on training (the survey will provide you with more details).
Infection Prevention and Control Refresher Training - February 2024. It is strongly recommended that dental health care providers familiarize themselves with the latest guidance from the CDC and OSAP, which can be accessed through the links in the IPC presentation slides.

Funding Opportunities for Programs & Providers

Some Supervisory Districts fund 802 Smiles Network programs; check with the SU to see if this is a possibility.
The American Dental Hygienists’ Association has several funding opportunities available.
As a Community Champion of the 802 Smiles Network, the Stratton Community Foundation provides funding for hundreds of children in southern Vermont to have access to Tier 4 services.

Other Resources

802 Smiles Dentists' Feedback Summary - the results from this survey will help improve 802 Smiles and strengthen our connections with the dental community.

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Last Updated: November 20, 2024