MO Healthy Smiles

PLAN EARLY FOR THE 2009-2010 SCHOOL YEAR

  Due to limitations in resources and funds, the Oral Health Program is encouraging schools and communities to prepare early for the coming school year.  During the 2008-2009 school year 34,250 children participated in the program.  We anticipate doubling that number next year.

Please set dates now for screening and varnish events and contact your Oral Health Consultant for supplies. (See "Find a Consultant" button at left).  December 1, 2009 is the deadline for activating participation in PSP.  Anyone requesting supplies and assistance after that time will be accommodated in the 2010-2011 school year.

Thank you being a supporter of PSP and promoting the oral health of the children in your community.

Independence Missouri Public Schools Increase Number of Student Involvement with PSP

The Independence Missouri Public School District uses the Preventive Services Program (PSP) to encourage good oral health habits in 17 elementary schools with Kindergarten - 5^thgrade students by providing an oral screening, two fluoride varnish applications, oral health instruction and a free toothbrush & toothpaste. Independence Public Schools became involved with the PSP during the 2007-2008 school year and had great success with student participation. However, this 2008-2009 school year showed an increase of student participation by over 25% of those receiving oral screenings and  a 33% increase of children receiving oral screenings and two fluoride varnish applications.

These increases in participation for 2008-2009 represents  a total of 6,020 children receiving oral screenings and 3,756 receiving oral screenings and 2 fluoride varnish applications. Twenty-five local dentists and dental hygienists helped with oral screenings and Independence School District staff assisted with the oral education and fluoride varnish applications. The PSP has been well received and supported by many in the community of Independence Missouri. The city of Independence does not have public fluoridated water, thus the preventative aspects of the PSP with 2 applications of fluoride varnish can be of great benefit to many children.

Lafayette County Health Department Saving Smiles Program Serves 1,689 Children

Lafayette County Health Department, in partnership with the DHSS Preventive Services Program (PSP) creates big numbers with their Saving Smiles Program. Lafayette Health Department created the name" Saving Smiles" to represent the PSP for their community. During the 2008-2009 school year, 8 schools in Lafayette County participated in the PSP/Saving Smiles Program. Over 1,689 children received an oral screening, two fluoride varnish applications, oral health instruction and a free toothbrush & toothpaste. The amount of children participating in Saving Smiles shows a 70% involvement of children from these 8 schools. Eight local dental professionals helped with the oral screenings, 43 student and parent volunteers and many Lafayette County Health Department employees assisted with the oral education and fluoride varnish applications.

 

 

 

PSP Partners with Local Foundation in Jackson and Cass Counties

The PSP has partnered with The Research Belton Foundation to provide dental screenings, fluoride varnish application, oral health education and free toothbrushes during the month of February to over 1,200 3^rd graders in the public schools in Belton, Raymore-Peculiar, and Grandview School Districts. 

    

On the day of the program, each student was screened by a dentist with results being documented on a form and sent home to parents or guardians.  A trained volunteer applied fluoride varnish to the students’ teeth. An oral health educational activity was presented by a dental hygienist. The second fluoride varnish application will be completed in May 2009.

 

        

...For students whose screening results indicate further treatment to be necessary, the Research Belton Foundation will provide dental care for children for qualifying families.  The Research Belton Foundation’s Dental Care for Children Program provides treatment for dental emergencies characterized by trauma, such as a broken tooth, or recurring pain.  The program covers fillings, root canals, extractions, x-rays and cleanings for area low income children whose parents cannot afford to pay for treatment and who do not have dental insurance. 

      The Dental Care for Children program is funded by the Research Belton Foundation’s Annual Walk for Heart held June 7, 2008. Approximately 500 people walked in this event raising over $50,000 in support of the Dental program and scholarships for high school seniors in the community...1

     

For further information refer to The Research Foundation’s website at http://www.trfkc.org/RBF

                                              

1-Press release, Research Belton Foundation to local newspapers.          

Head Starts Across Missouri Adopt PSP

Thirty Head Start Coordinators gathered in Columbia on February 25th for a Peer to Peer Meeting to discuss strategies for implementing the Preventive Services Program in their Centers. 

Dr. Nick Rogers, Region VII Dental Consultant, presented information to update the coordinators on federal initiatives.  A panel presentation (see photo) described the "nuts and bolts" of implementing the valuable program in a Center. 

Pictured in the photo are (L-R) Marilyn Howell, Sharon Young, Shirley Reser, Shasta Heterington and Beth Vossler.  Standing is Bonnie Branson, Oral Health Project Director.

Dental Professionals "Team Up" To Provide PSP

      1 Orthodontist, 6 Dental Hygienists and 16 students from the Allied College School of Dental Assisting teamed up to provide dental screenings and fluoride varnish to students at the Telegraph Intermediate School in Festus, Missouri this past Fall.

    Telegraph is one of three schools in the Jefferson County R-VII School District who participated in the Preventive Services Program, and after many months of organizing and preparing for the event, the day finally paid off in what the volunteers claimed to be a relatively quick and very enjoyable experience.

    To complete the second and final application of fluoride varnish, the school has enlisted the help of the students and faculty at the Saint Louis Community College's Dental Hygiene Program.  They are scheduled to provide this service in March, which will conclude the program for this school for the year.

Thumbs Up For Fluoride Varnish

      Students at Plattin Primary School in the Jefferson County R-VII School District, enthusiastically participated in the school's very first PSP event held in October. 

    After a short class-wide oral health educational power point presentation, students were ushered down the hallway to the library where dental professionals and community volunteers eagerly awaited to screen the children for dental problems and apply fluoride varnish to help prevent dental decay.

    The school is currently making plans to follow-up with a second application of fluoride varnish during the month of March.  This young man happily agrees to the "thumbs up" for raspberry flavored fluoride varnish.

Elementary School In The Fort Zumwalt School District "Pilots" PSP

      Students from the Rock Creek Elementary School participated in the school's first PSP event during the month of November.  Staff and volunteers successfully screened and varnished over 300 children.  According to the school nurse, Tracy Estrel, "PSP proved to be invaluable for oral health education and prevention as well as a wonderful screening tool for the identification of students requiring dental intervention".

    One local dentist, Dr. Mark Dolson (pictured left), as well as 7 dental hygienists from the community provided the dental screenings, while 6 dental assistants and 15 parents volunteered to provide help with oral health education, dry brush instruction and fluoride varnish application.

    Rock Creek Elementary School is looking forward to another successful PSP event in March when it completes the second application of fluoride varnish for the school year.

New Haven Elementary School Takes Part In PSP

   

    In October, the New Haven Elementary School experienced what School Nurse, Karen Bean and EMT/Health Aide, Branda Korman are calling a "landmark" as students participated in their very first PSP event.  Staff and volunteers worked very hard, but managed to screen and varnish approximately 200 children in less than three hours.

    Two dentists from the area, Dr. Jackie Miller and Dr. Jenifer Moser, gave of their time to provide the dental screenings, while 10 parents from the community volunteered to provide help with the educational power points, dry brushing and fluoride varnish application.

    After this very successful first event, New Haven Elementary School is already making its plans for their second event which will be held in the Spring, where the students will receive their second application of fluoride varnish for the school year.

PSP Means Healthy Teeth-Happy Kids

The Preventive Services Program (PSP) offers communities and schools an "Oral Health Program in a Box".  All components of the program are at no-cost to the school or sponsoring agency.  This includes; brushes, toothpaste, floss, mouth mirrors and two fluoride varnish applications yearly.

Contact an Oral Health Consultant in your region to find out how to link with this program sponsored by the Department of Health and Senior Services.  THE END RESULT: Healthy Teeth, Happy Kids.

Students at Missouri Schools for the Severely Disabled Receive Fluoride Varnish

The students at all Missouri  Schools for the Severely Disabled received an oral screening,fluoride varnish application, a battery-powered toothbrush and tooth paste. The Oral Health Consultants also gave oral health education information for the students to the school nurses to share with the staff. Debbie Bechtel, the nurse for Greene Valley State School in Springfield posed for a photo after the screening and varnish event was completed.