Quantcast
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 446

Dentists Go The Distance To Bring Preventive Care To Kids

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
2012 Health Fair File Photo

2012 Health Fair File Photo

The Community Health Fair Family Fun Day committee has announced another new addition to this year’s line-up. Smile Care Ohio, mobile dentists, will be providing pediatric dental screenings at the health fair on Saturday, April 27 at Grace Community Church.

“The screenings will be provided for children ages eighteen months to eighteen years,” said Cheryl Royster of Fayette County Memorial Hospital, who added that they will be available from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Smile Care Ohio is an on-site dental care program created in compliance with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the U.S. Surgeon General guidelines.

Many children don’t go to a dentist for recommended dental exams and cleanings. Often the reason is as basic as a lack of transportation to and from the dental office.

This obvious need prompted dentist Dr. Elliot Schlang to bring the dental office directly to the children in an efficient and comfortable venue – their own schools.

Smile Programs, utilizing a team consisting of a state-licensed dentist, state-licensed hygienist and dental assistant, takes the necessary equipment into schools and other facilities to provide dental exams, cleanings, fluoride treatments and sealants, where indicated, for children in preschool through the eighth grade.

“We know that tooth decay is the most common chronic and infectious disease among children,” said Dr. Schlang. “We also know poor oral health causes other problems in children, such as diminished growth in toddlers, poor nutrition due to difficulty in eating and an increase in bacteria in the blood and respiratory systems.”

Going one step further in serving this population, Smile Programs provides easy-to-receive financial grants in order to subsidize the cost of treatment. The grants are based on need, not on the parents’ income.

The Smile teams provide preventive dental care at schools and Head Starts almost every day of the school year. They offer the same care at summer programs and daycares during the summer months.

At the Community Health Fair Family Fun Day, the dentists will be providing the following services: dental exams and screenings; cleanings; fluoride and fluoride varnish; radiographs; and sealants. When the children leave the dental chairs with that just-cleaned teeth feeling, they get a new toothbrush and a dental “report card” to take home.

Treatment is covered 100% by Medicaid, Care Source, Molina, or Healthy Start/Healthy Families. Most dental insurance covers the services as well. Grants can be provided for dental preventive service for children needing financial assistance.

Those who wish to self-pay will pay a cost ranging from $43-$80 for the visit, depending on the services chosen. Details are available on the registration form.

A pre-registration is highly recommended. Due to the anticipated demand for this service, we will try and see children if they didn’t register prior to the event. Children will be seen on a first come, first-served basis. “We’ve been told there will be plenty of time to get everyone through, as long as they have registered ahead of time,” said Royster.

Applications are available at Head Start, Rock-A-Bye, Grace Weekday Ministries, Fayette Progressive School, the WIC or Help Me Grow office at the Health Department or by calling Sharon Gibbs or Melissa Smith at 335-5111. The registration forms must be returned to the Help Me Grow office at the Health Department or Cheryl Royster at Fayette County Memorial Hospital no later than April 16.

The Smile Program professionals will arrive early and have their dental equipment ready by the time the health fair begins.

Information about the program also is available on the website at www.mobiledentists.com


Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 446

Trending Articles