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Dental Health Promotion - Outreach, Screening and Referral
From:
Wake County Human Services
Contact:
Johanna S. Irving, DDS, Dental Health Director
Purpose:
Decrease tooth decay and untreated disease in children entering kindergarten and increase oral health education and prevention among families of high risk pre-school children in homes and in pre-school settings.
How:
- Reach families of high-risk children through professional staff from six programs serving them in homes and outreach sites.
- Use dental hygienist to train non-dental professional staff to incorporate oral health education into their interactions with families.
- Develop training and support so that oral health curriculum becomes integral part of program interactions.
- Offer screenings, referral and follow-up for children at selected day cares, More At Four programs and community locations.
- Provide fluoride varnish as possible.
- Provide preventive dental service at Dental Clinic to underserved, at risk children 0-35 months.
Outcome:
- Decrease incidence of early childhood caries.
- Increase oral health education with families (10,000 estimated) by health professionals.
- Increase parent's knowledge of behaviors related to child's oral health.
- Identify signs of decay early and prevent progression of dental decay.
- Provide preventive services to children not receiving preventive services.
- Document training of health professional and its effectiveness.
- Monitored and supported application of knowledge by trained staff.
- 2500 oral screenings completed at centers and follow-up treatment for 300.
Cost/Term:
$416,337 over three years.
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