Chantal Hatley, RDH examines Roman Hatley at the Stanly County Dental Clinic. (Contributed)
The Stanly County Health Department Dental Clinic has been selected to receive a grant award of $100,000 over three years. This will provide expansion of the School-Based Oral Health Program to the Early Childhood Education programs in Stanly County. The grant funding is provided through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation.
February is National Children's Dental Health Month. During February, the Stanly County Dental Clinic staff has been promoting dental health by providing oral health education programs and donating dental supplies in area daycare programs.
The Stanly County Dental Clinic has been providing oral health services to children in Stanly County and the surrounding area for more than 22 years. The Stanly County Dental Clinic is a division of the Stanly County Health Department.
"We are not limited to providing services in our dental clinic. We are also providing services throughout the community," states Dr. Mindy Turner, Dental Director and Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist at Stanly County Dental Clinic. "We are grateful for our community partnerships with Atrium Stanly, Stanly County Partnership for Children, Head Start and the Stanly County public schools."
According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, "nearly one in five kindergartners have untreated tooth decay, which can have long-term health impacts such as chronic disease."
The Stanly County Dental Clinic staff provide sealant programs in the public elementary and middle schools throughout the school year. This preventative service protects the chewing surfaces of teeth. Once applied, sealants protect against 80% of cavities for two years and continue to protect against 50% of cavities for up to 4 years according to the CDC.
"We are grateful for the support of the Stanly County school nurses and the Board of Education to provide this service," states Turner. "The start-up project funds for the dental program were received through a Duke Endowment grant."
"We are excited to expand our services to the Pre-K and Head Start Programs through the recent grant award. The program will focus on educating families of younger children on the importance of homecare and diet. Screenings and preventive services will be offered to promote caries free children starting kindergarten," added Turner.
What can parents do to promote oral health in their children?
The American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry encourage parents to take their children to the dentist for a first check-up by their first birthday. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services recommends the following:
* Schedule regular dental check-ups for your child, starting at age 1. Early detection and prevention are key to maintaining good oral health.
* Brush your child's teeth twice a day. Floss your child's teeth as recommended by your child's dentist. Eat a balanced diet while limiting sugary snacks and beverages. Sugar is a significant contributor to dental decay.
* Ask your child's health care team about the use of dental sealants to protect your child's teeth from decay.
* Be a role model for your child's oral health by maintaining your own dental hygiene routines. (ncdhhs.gov)
Where can parents access dental health services for their children?
Parents are encouraged to have routine biannual check-ups with their dentist. If a child needs a dental home, the Stanly County Dental Clinic is available to provide dental services to children ages 0-12. Children covered by Medicaid, private dental insurance, or private pay are eligible. Contact the dental clinic for information and sliding fee scale application/information.
The Stanly County Dental Clinic is at 1000 N. First St., Albemarle. Office hours are 7:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday.
For more information contact the SCDC at 704-986-3845.