MO Healthy Smiles

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.

Dental Health Coordinator for Ozarks County

Kristi Williams is serving as the first Dental Health Coordinator for Ozarks County.  Kristi is the school nurse for Lutie and Thornfield Elementary Schools.  She has been serving as an advocate for the health needs of the children for the past twelve years.  

Creative use of funding and pooling of resources has allowed Kristi to serve as the Dental Health Coordinator for Ozarks County.  This one-day per week position allows the services of PSP, Gainesville FQHC and resources from Missouri Foundation for Health to be coordinated to meet the dental needs of the children in this county.

Kristi Willillams, Dental Health Champion!

Dr. Engle Volunteers to Improve the Oral Health of Concordia's Children

Dr. Robert Engle volunteers at the Concordia Elementary School and at St. Paul's Lutheran School in Concordia, MO to do annual screenings for the children.  As a PSP volunteer, Dr. Engle, is showing a commitment to the oral health of the children in his community. 

This community service takes him away from his private practice several days per year. Children receive education, fluoride varnish and referral for care following the school screenings.  

Thank you Dr. Engle for caring about the kids in your community!

Lafayette County Health Department Big Into PSP

1500 children in Lafayette County will have healthier smiles thanks to the committment of the Lafayette County Health Department.  The Department has adopted the Preventive Services Program and calls it "Saving Smiles". 

This  program is under the direction of nurses Martha McReynolds (center) and Donna Oetting (right).  These two hard-working ladies make sure that the children in Lafayette county receive oral health education, annual dental screenings, twice per year fluoride varnish treatments and referral for care.  McReynolds and Oetting implement "Saving Smiles" in addition to their other responsibilties with Lafayette County Health Department.

They are joined in their efforts by others from the Health Department, including Teresa Rogers (left).  Parents and school nurses also volunteer to make oral health a priority in their community. 

All of Central City Catholic Schools Participate in PSP

We are pleased to report that all four schools in the Kansas City Central City Catholic School district will participate in PSP this coming school year.  These schools include; Our Lady of the Angels, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Holy Cross and St. Stephen's.  On October 17, 2008 Our Lady of the Angels school was the first to receive screening and fluoride varnish.  This program has the potential to reach 600 children with education, screening, fluoride and referral for care. Pictured at left is dental hygienist Kendra Tann applying fluoride varnish.

New Madrid County Health Department Initiates County Wide Oral Health Program

With great concern over limited access to dental care and the unmet dental needs of many of New Madrid County’s children, Dr. Charles Baker, Senior Advisor for the New Madrid County Health Department, recently launched a county-wide oral health initiative.

In late September, PSP was presented to a large & very diverse group of individuals from New Madrid County, which included among others, School Nurses, Dental Professionals, School Principals and Superintendents, County Health Department Employees, Community Volunteers, County Commissioners, Mayors and even one State Representative.  The goal of this meeting was to not only create awareness of the Preventive Services Program, but to generate community-wide involvement & endorsement.  Dr. Baker’s goal was met as the program was well received by those attending. It is the intent of the County Health Department to implement PSP in each of the 12 schools located within the county, reaching approximately 2900 students.  

The way Dr. Baker has enlisted community wide support of the program is truly the Preventive Services Program “community-based systems approach” in action.  Thank you Dr. Baker!