Program Mission
The Mission of the Miami VA Healthcare System 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 outpatient clinic in Broward County. The professional staff at the Miami facility consists of five general practice dentists, one periodontist, one maxillofacial prosthodontist and full-time oral and maxillofacial surgeon, supported by 15 dental assistants, two dental hygienists, one Expanded Functions Dental Hygienist, two dental laboratory technicians, one program support assistant, one secretary and one clerk. The staff at The Broward County Outpatient Clinic is composed of three general practice dentists supported by three dental assistants, one laboratory technician, one dental hygienist, and one secretary/receptionist.
Services Provided
Inpatient Care
Patients receiving hospital care will be provided dental services that are professionally determined by a VA dentist, in consultation with the referring physician, to be essential to the management of the patient’s medical condition. The treatment goal is specific improvement of oral conditions that directly compromise the medical condition under active treatment. The dental care provided is generally limited to medically necessary services to manage oral conditions in which the symptoms of acute pain, uncontrolled bleeding, or significant infection are present. Dental care is generally limited to one time restorative procedures or extractions and appropriate pharmacological therapy. Dental care may be extended to provide services to maintain or augment adequate masticatory function, improve appearance, and correct speech deficiencies but must coincide with stated treatment objectives. The Chief, Dental Service, is responsible for determining the proper disposition of inpatients who have received dental care. A determination must be made whether the provided dental treatment has accomplished the intended treatment goals. In some 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.
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 VA Healthcare System 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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