North Central Health District 5-2's Oral Health Prevention Program helps to prevent oral disease among children through education, prevention and early treatment. In March 2011, Sherri Jones, district dental hygienist, started going into elementary schools in Houston County to provide dental care to children of varying ages.

Public health dental services are provided to children who are enrolled in Medicaid and PeachCare programs, as well as to low-income patients on a sliding-fee scale. The district dental program focuses on children in pre-K through third grade. These children receive a dental screening examination, dental sealants, fluoride treatments and oral hygiene education. The dental screening examination includes a dental inspection of the mouth to see if there are any dental or oral problems. The dental sealants the children receive is a plastic coating that is placed on the chewing surfaces of permanent molar teeth to seal out food and bacteria that cause tooth decay or cavities. A fluoride varnish application is given to children lacking an adequate source of fluoride. Jones also teaches school children the importance of proper brushing, flossing and nutrition for good dental health.

Parents are given a screening form that goes home with their child. The screening form is based on certain colors of red, yellow or green and indicates the action parents need to take based on their child's dental screening done at school. The green is for children who had no apparent problems during the dental screening and only need routine dental care visits to prevent any future dental disease. The yellow indicates caution because a child requires additional care within the next three months. Usually, these children have cavities, gum disease or orthodontic needs that were observed during the dental screening. The red notifies parents of children who need immediate dental care due to a toothache, infection or extensive decay. An additional form is sent home to parents if their child needs immediate dental care. It is important for these children to be taken immediately to their family dentist for a complete dental exam and treatment as to prevent further infection, pain or possible loss of teeth. Every child who receives a dental screening at the school gets a bag with a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss.

First priority for treatment is given to children who need emergency dental services because of pain or infection, and those who are eligible for the Free and Reduced Meal Program. Currently, the district dental program is able to have a dentist one day a week to help see those children in Houston County schools who need special attention. Dr. Deborah Reddick, dentist for the Macon-Bibb County Health Department, works with Jones in the schools. Since starting this program in March of 2011, Jones said she is pleased with how supportive the Houston County School System has been about the Oral Health Program. So far, Jones and Reddick have been to six elementary schools in Houston County.    

"What always makes me feel good at the end of the day is seeing that one child we were able to get in and get his mouth taken care of so that he is able to stay in school," said Jones.

In addition to providing dental care to school children in Houston County, the district's Oral Health Program provides dental screenings and oral hygiene education for Head Start centers within the district. Jones has been to 10 centers since March 2011.

Currently, the Oral Health Program has only been to elementary schools in Houston County, but Jones hopes to visit other county elementary schools in the district in the future to provide dental care to even more children. For more information about the district's Oral Health Prevention Program, please call 478-752-1747 or 478-751-6303. To learn more about Georgia's Oral Health Prevention Program, visit  http://www.health.state.ga.us/programs/oral/index.asp