Taft Elementary student receives dental screening

First- and second-grade students in Lincoln County are participating in a pilot program which may spare them the experience of having cavities drilled and filled in a dentist’s office.

The dental sealant and oral health screening program is presented by the Oregon Public Health Division–Oral Health Program in partnership with Dental Outreach Oregon. The school-based program consists of a sealant education DVD presentation, a dental screening, and sealants placed by a registered dental hygienist and dental assistant.

According to state health officials, 85 percent of tooth decay in permanent teeth occurs on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth (molars), which usually come during a child’s first- or second-grade years. When applying the thin liquid-plastic dental sealants to the chewing surfaces of molars, the coating flows into the natural deep pits and grooves, which are difficult to reach with a toothbrush, and seals out decay-causing bacteria. The procedure is painless and requires no anesthetic.

Dental Outreach Oregon will be looking to enhance the sustainability of the School-Based Dental Sealant program by billing insurance providers directly and providing follow-up dental treatment services as needed.

In photo, a dental health assistant from Dental Outreach Oregon examines the teeth of Taft Elementary second-grader William Brooks on Feb. 20, as part of a school-based dental sealant and oral health pilot program.