Notes for School Oral Health Program
Slide 1- Cover sheet introduction: This power point was designed to for school personnel, teachers, principals, superintendents and other staff on the Maine School Oral Health Program.
Slide 2- The oral health of children has improved significantly over the past few decades. We know the importance about health promotion and disease prevention to promote the overall health in children.
Slide 3- Americans face significant oral health problems. The two most common diseases are tooth decay and periodontal disease (infection around the gums). These diseases can affect individuals throughout their life span.
Slide 4- More than half of children aged 5-9 have had at least one cavity or filling. By age 17 more than 7% of children have lost one permanent tooth to decay.
Slide 5- read from slides
Slide 6- The daily reality for children with untreated oral disease is often persistent pain, unable to eat comfortably or chew well, embarrassment at discolored and damaged teeth and distraction from playing and learning.
Slide 7- read from slides
Slide 8- This boy name is Deamonte Driver a 12 year old boy who died from complications of a brain abscess from an untreated dental infection. In the U.S. there have bee two children who have died from complications from dental infections. There are many children who are hospitalized from untreated dental infections.
Slide 9- read from slide
Slide 10- The Maine Oral Health Program has the vision that “Maine citizens will have improved Oral Health through access to educational, preventive and treatment services.
Slide 11-The fluoride mouth rinse is purchased through the Maine Oral Health Program. There is no cost to the school. The school nurses, school coordinators, dental hygienist work hard trying to implement these programs. Parents who sign their children up for weekly fluoride mouth rinse are expecting school personnel to make sure it is done. It takes less than five minutes.
Slide 12- With the economic crisis the country is in more and more families are seeking care in free community clinics. For every child without medical insurance, there are 2.6 who lack dental insurance.
Slide 13- Fluoride is the 17th most abundant element in the earth’s crust. Systemic delivery- is those that are ingested into the body and become incorporated into forming tooth structure. It has also been proven to reduce the acidity in plaque which breaks down the tooth enamel.
Slide 14- read from slides
Slide 15- The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that every $1 invested in fluoridation, $38 in dental treatment cost is saved. In addition, Medicaid dental programs cost as much 59% less in fluoridated communities compared to non- fluoridated communities.
Slide 16- 17-18 – read from slides
Slide 19- Maine is large rural state. There are fewer dentists in the central and northern parts of the state. This makes it very difficult for people without insurance to seek dental treatment. Many people will seek treatment in the emergency room.
Slide 20- Education and prevention are important component in the School Oral health Program. The Oral Health Program have a wide range of oral health materials, learning curriculums and hands on teaching tools that can be borrowed.
Slide 21- 22-To make any program successful it takes a group of committed individuals. School nurses can’t do it alone! They need help from volunteers, parents and staff to help make the fluoride rinse program successful.