Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos), TX – It’s National Children’s Dental Health Month and the perfect time to get a dental screening for your child. Children 12 and under can receive a free dental screening at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center (CRDAMC) from noon to 4 p.m. February, 15 and from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. February 16.

Dependents of active duty or retired service members currently enrolled in TRICARE are eligible for the free screening. Children in need of dental care may be eligible to enroll in the on-post pediatric dental program offered through DENTAC.

“If someone qualifies for the pediatric program, they can save a lot of money and time. We can usually get kids in for that first appointment in about two weeks,” according to Maj. Sivanich, AEGD pediatric dental mentor.

The pediatric dental program is a component of the Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residency program that allows Army dentists to provide care for dependents. Participants in the program must meet certain criteria to receive dental services on post. Once a child is accepted into the program there are no co-pays or cost shares for dental services.

Sivanich noted that this is a special program that allows Army dentists to focus on their readiness and maintain professional certifications while providing quality dental care services to the community

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