MO Healthy Smiles

DHSS Presence at National Oral Health Conference in Miami

Bonnie Branson, RDH, PhD, the DHSS Oral Health Project Director, recently attended the National Oral Health Conference in Miami to present information about PSP and the efforts made to market the program.  Dr. Michael McCunniff, dentist consultant to DHSS and Associate Professor in the Department of Dental Public Health & Behavioral Science and Director of Outreach for the UMKC School of Dentistry, is pictured with Bonnie.   

Getting Their Own Head Start

Pregnant moms gathered at the St. Louis North County YWCA Head Start Center to find out from DHSS Oral Health Consultant, Diann Bomkamp, RDH, how oral health affects their total health and that of their child's.  They also learned how to nurture good oral health by taking care of their own teeth first.  When moms have clean teeth, they will be less likely to pass on dental disease-producing bacteria on to their babies. Robin Wilkerson (back right) coordinated the event.

Butler County Health Department Sponsors PSP Informational Presentation

In an effort to gain an understanding of PSP, health professionals representing schools and local public health agencies from Butler, Wayne and Ripley counties attended an informational presentation on the Missouri Preventive Services Program sponsored by the Butler County Health Department.  Pictured here are Emily Goodin, Health Educator for the Butler County Health Department, Crystal Epley, LPN and Jean Crutchfield, Administrator for the Wayne County Health Center and Sue Frymire, RN and Tenna Gibla, Medical Technician from the Greenville School District.

Rogers Elementary School To Participate In PSP

Earlier this year, 16 school nurses from the Mehlville School District had the opportunity to hear about the Missouri Preventive Services Program during one of their regularly scheduled "professional development days".  As a result, the district decided to "pilot" the program in one of its elementary schools.  Chosen for this pilot was Rogers Elementary School.  Pictured here is Jeff Bresler, the school Principal and Jan Neff, the school nurse, as they look over the details of the program in anticipation of implementing PSP in the up and coming school year.

Nurses Combining Efforts to Push Prevention

Nurses Diane Esala (left) from Dardenne Elementary School, and Tracy Estel (right) from Rock Creek Elementary School, are preparing to implement PSP at their schools in the fall by practicing how to place the fluoride varnish on their teeth.  Both schools are located in the Fort Zumwalt R-II School District.

DeSoto School District

DeSoto 73 School District in Jefferson County Looks at PSP

Lead nurse, Dawn Brown, RN, has been concerned about the oral health of the children in her school district because she  personally has seen the results of poor oral health.  DHSS consulant, Diann Bomkamp, RDH, explained how PSP would help reduce dental decay and improve the health and learning capabilities of her students.  DeSoto School District has five elementary, one junior high school and one high school with a total of approximately 2860 students.

Infant Oral Care Conference A Success

Head Start coordinators, health educators, dentists and dental hygienists joined together for the first Infant Oral Care Conference.  The featured speaker was Dr. Francisco Ramos-Gomez from the University of California-San Francisco.  Dr. Ramos-Gomez directed the 35 participants in management strategies for children under three years of age. 

The highlight of the program was the hands-on portion where participants were given the opportunity to complete care on children at Tiger Paws Early Head Start Center in Columbia.  Featured at left are Dr. Francisco Ramos-Gomez and the Oral Health Team.  The conference was funded by HRSA with coordinating efforts from the Missouri Head Start Association, Department of Health and Senior Services and the Missouri Primary Care Association.

WHERE DOES PSP WORK BEST?

East side, West SIde-ALL AROUND THE STATE. 

PSP works best where it is embraced by the community.

This program can be applied in large metropolitan area or in a rural setting. 

PSP is hypothetically, an "oral healthprogram in a box".  You take the components and use them how they fit best in your community.

HEAR IT FIRST HAND-PSP Partners Share Their Stories

Check out our new section titled "TESTIMONIALS".  You can find this feature on the left-hand ribbon bar of this home page.  Pictured at left is Denise Nelson, RN, School Nurse at Nevada, Missouri. Hear her share how she has used the Oral Health Curriculum and PSP Toothbrushes to educate her students.

Also hear from Dr. Patricia Merkely, a dentist in Cape Girardeau. She will share her experiences in conducting the PSP screenings.  A third testimonial is from Debbie Starke, Director of the Eastland Foundation in Lee's Summit.  She will discuss how her community has become involved in PSP. 

Click on this new section and ENJOY!

South Central MO Head Start Centers Take Part In PSP

    Concern over the oral health of each of the children enrolled in her head start centers, Cindy Copeland, the Health Specialist for the South Central Missouri Community Action Agency's Head Start Program developed a unique way to implement the PSP in each of her 12 centers using 1 hygienist and a few trained volunteers.
    Ms. Copeland, eager to enroll in the PSP and in need of some help from the dental community, contacted Linda Cravens, a registered dental hygienist from Wayne County.  Linda, willing to help, offered a few of her days to provide dental screenings.  The two then partnered together and traveled to each of the head start centers located throughout Butler, Ripley, Reynolds, Carter, Shannon, Dent and Wayne counties.  Staff members (trained in the PSP) from each of those centers were used to help Cindy and Linda by applying varnish and controlling the flow of children in and out of the area in which they were being seen.  By having the personnel resources available directly from each site, Cindy and Linda were able to quickly and efficiently implement the Preventive Services Program and serve 446 children 3 to 5 years old.  (Pictured here is Linda Cravens, RDH)

Central Missouri Community Action Agency Learns about PSP

Lori Bruce, Oral Health Consultant for mid-Missouri, is pleased to report that Central Missouri Community Action Agency is considering adoption of the PSP for its Head Start programs. 575 children would benefit from this service. Anticipated start date is Fall 2008.

Clinicians and Head Start personnel have been invited to an Infant Oral Health conference to learn more about the program.  This program, scheduled for April 17 and 18, features Dr. Francisco Ramos-Gomez.  Dr. Gomez is a pediatric dentist and recognized expert in infant oral care.