County program offers dental exams
By Holly Neumann
Healthy Smiles for Waupaca County is visiting area schools to give students access to oral health prevention services.
“We are a mobile dental office that comes to schools twice yearly,” said Aimee Bestul, program manager and lead clinician. “We perform oral health screening, fluoride varnish placement, dental sealants, along with referrals for dental treatment if needed.”
Statistics show that one in three Wisconsin children are living with untreated dental decay, the most preventable chronic disease in the United States.
“Applying sealants in schools saves your child from time away from class and prevents your child from developing cavities which can cause pain, discomfort and make eating or concentrating in class difficult,” Bestul said. “Poor health and untreated oral disease/conditions can largely affect the ability to learn.”
Dental sealants, which are a thin plastic coating painted on the chewing surface of back teeth, prevent 80 percent of cavities in back teeth, where 9 in 10 cavities occur.
Oral health education
Bestul and her assistant Krystal Paulson also review of tooth brushing instructions and oral health education is also provided.
Each child is supplied with a new toothbrush and toothpaste and a letter is sent home with every child stating what services were performed.
“Our main goal is finding dental homes and regular dental care for every child,” Bestul said. “We encourage families to establish a dental home and maintain their preventive appointments. We are an adjunct to dental homes; not a replacement for them. If parents need help finding a local dentist, we do make referrals and can help find one who accepts their dental insurance or payment plans.”
To sign-up for the Healthy Smiles for Waupaca County program parents can visit https://sealasmile.wisconsin.gov/Consent. Visitors find a brief tutorial and information regarding sealants.
The program is free of charge.
Services are offered to all children at identified schools at no cost to the child or their family. All families have to do is return the child’s consent form and they will receive services.
“We serve both private and public schools in Waupaca County,” said Bestul. “We see any child from pre-K thru 12th grade.”Healthy Smiles for Waupaca County is a service provided by Waupaca County Public Health.