February is Children's National Dental Health Month and the Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Department's dental prevention program will celebrate this special month along with dental staff from all over the country.  In celebration, the district dental prevention program is sponsoring a dental health poster contest. 

The purpose of the Children's Dental Health Poster Contest is to increase awareness of the important role that early dental prevention and care plays in the overall health of a child.  Students eligible to participate in the contest are those attending elementary school grades K-5.  There will be two categories:  K-3 and 4-5.  Each category will have first, second and third place winners plus Honorable Mention.  Winners will be selected based on the oral health message, originality of the illustration and color, and overall poster presentation.   The poster deadline is March 16, 2012 and winners will be announced April 13, 2012.  Winning posters will be posted on the district website. 

The contest is being promoted through signage in the schools, in the schools' newsletters and on the district's website.  This is the first time the district has used the website to promote the contest, announce the winners, and display the winning posters.  District staff believe that directing parents and students to the site for the poster contest will increase awareness of other programs, information and services the health department can provide for them.

The dental services and education provided to students helps prevent dental pain and reduces the future need for costly restorative dental treatment and emergency room visits.  It is also hoped that these dental experiences will make lifelong positive impressions that will stay with the children in the future.