Students at Clarkson Elementary School recently received on-site dental care through the Big Smiles Kentucky In-School Dental Program.
Big Smiles is an in-school dental program designed to “address today’s dental crisis and keep children healthy.” Its innovative model provides state-of-the-art dental care to students in the comfortable and familiar setting of their school, allowing them to remain in class and focus on learning.
The Big Smiles dental team is led by a licensed dentist who volunteers their time to provide dental care to students during the school day. This eliminates the need for children to leave school and for parents to miss work.
The dental team sets up a fully equipped mobile dental office within the school and provides services typically offered at a traditional dental office, including preventive cleanings, X-rays, sealants, tooth extractions, and fillings. When necessary, students may also be referred to oral surgeons or orthodontists for additional care. Parents complete an application for participation, and private insurance is billed for services.
This year, a total of 51 students received dental care at school. Each student received an oral exam, cleaning, sealants, and preventive treatment. As a result, 23 cavities were filled, and 29 students were found to be cavity-free. Altogether, an estimated 107 days of instructional time and parent workdays were saved.
Big Smiles is a program hosted by the Clarkson Family Resource Center as part of its Health and Family Services component.
(Photo: A student receiving dental care at Clarkson Elem. School, courtesy of Clarkson Family Resource Center)
By Clarkson Family Resource Center
