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Dental Service
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Program Mission
The Mission of the Miami VA Dental Service is to provide oral health services for veteran beneficiaries in conjunction with other elements of the Medical Center and in accordance with the overall policies of the Department.
Program Description
The Dental Service is composed of three clinics, namely, the main clinic in the hospital, a second smaller clinic at the Nursing Home, and a satellite outpatient clinic at Oakland Park in Ft. Lauderdale. The professional staff at the Miami facility consists of five general practice dentists, two periodontists, one maxillofacial prosthodontist and half-time oral and maxillofacial surgeon, supported by 15 dental assistants, two dental hygienists, one Expanded Functions Dental Hygienist, three dental laboratory technicians, one secretary and one receptionist. The staff at Oakland Park Outpatient Clinic is composed of three general practice dentists supported by three dental assistants, two laboratory technicians, one dental hygienist, and one secretary/receptionist.
Services Provided
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Inpatient Care
Inpatient care is provided on a consultative basis, in othe words, while veterans are hospitalized theymay receive dental care as is essential to his or her medical needs. Dental treatment may include treatment of trauma, control of pain, elimination of acute infection, and may be extended to provide definitive care to maintain or augment adequate masticatory function, improve appearance and correct speech deficiencies. In come cases dental treatment may be continued on an outpatient basis. Long-term, including Nursing Home Care Unit patients, are examined at least every six months following the time of last examination or completion of last episode of treatment and are provided such dental treatment as is considered reasonably necessary to protect and maintain health.
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Outpatient Care
Outpatient dental benefits are furnished to veterans in accordance with the provisions of existing legislation and regulations promulgated by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Congress of the United States. Under certain conditions, outpatient emergency dental care may be provided to individuals who do not have established dental eligibility. Such treatment is restricted to the alleviation of acute pain, infection or trauma, or the remediation of any dental condition which is determined to be a serious threat to health or endangering life itself. Individuals provided emergency dental treatment who are indeed ineligible for such care will be billed in accordance with established VA procedures. Emergency dental treatment for VA employees may be provided only to the extent necessary to permit employees to remain on duty. If follow-up or complications are anticipated, the employee will be advised to seek private care. Injuries incurred in the performance of duty will receive necessary emergency treatment.
Dental Research
Because of the expertise in several specialties and subspecialties of dentistry, the Miami VAMC Dental Service is considered a Center for Excellence in the areas of Head and Neck Cancer Surgery and reconstruction, Maxillofacial Prosthetics and Dental Implantology.
Contact Information
For further information, please contact Dental Service at (305) 575-7000, ext. 3146.
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