Untitled Document

Oral Health America and Smiles Across Minnesota celebrated the expansion of their statewide preventive dental program to St. Cloud Area public elementary schools in March.

"The program allows us to serve a large number of students who may not have access to preventive dental care," said Dr. Steve Jordahl, superintendent of St. Cloud Area School District 742.

"Community-based programs are cost-effective. Children receiving dental sealants in school-based programs have 60 percent less decay for up to five years. We anticipate serving 1,000 children in the first year, at a minimum," said Sarah Wovcha, executive director of Children's Dental Services and co-chair of Smiles Across Minnesota.

Director of Finance, Tom Mesich, emphasized the program's focus on uninsured and underinsured children. "If a family already has commercial insurance, those children and their parents will be encouraged to visit their previously established dental home."

"Our goal was to create a model for Smiles Across Minnesota that can be tailored to fit community needs throughout the state," said Ann Johnson, director of community affairs at Delta Dental of Minnesota, and co-chair of Smiles Across Minnesota.

Delta Dental of Minnesota and Children's Dental Services launched the Smiles Across Minnesota coalition in 2006 as a partner with Oral Health America's Smiles Across America® program.

*Pictured above are Dr. Steve Jordahl, Dr. Elisabeth Rogers (Director of Special Services for the St Cloud School District), Sarah Wovcha, Ann Johnson and OHA's Director of Finance; Tom Mesich.

School-Based Clinics Reduce Lost School Hours
Hern with Child St. Cloud

Stephanie Hern is a collaborative practice registered dental hygienist with Children's Dental Services in the St. Cloud, Minnesota public schools. She takes a vested interest in each patient with whom she works. She reports that of the twelve patients she saw at Lincoln Elementary School in St Cloud recently, only two had ever been to the dentist and every child needed extensive dental care.

"I made the assessment that significant restorative work was needed and if left untreated could have led to abscessed teeth," says Hern. "I referred the twelve children to a local dentist immediately." Hern sees children with special needs as well. "Our last patient of the day yesterday was a child with autism, with a great deal of sensory issues. By the end of our time together she was giggling."

Several of the children that received care at Lincoln Elementary were uninsured. Support received from OHA's Smiles Across America® supporters, including Trident® gum, Delta Dental, Patterson Dental and 3M ESPE, as well as donated dental supplies from Oral Health America, helped offset their costs for more than $600 worth of needed preventive dental care on just that one day.