USA - Students in Garfield County School District 16 area take advantage of county program

Students in Garfield County School District 16 area take advantage of county program
By Heidi RicePARACHUTE/BATTLEMENT MESA — Some hadn’t been to the dentist in a very long time. Some had never had any oral care. But more than 200 young kids in the Battlement Mesa/Parachute area had the opportunity recently in a first-ever local program that allowed them to have free dental cleanings for free.
Around 220 school children in District 16 received the free cleanings for two weeks between April 6 and 17 through a grant provided by the Caring for Colorado Foundation. The grant was administered by Garfield County Public Health in cooperation with Western Colorado Area Health Education Center.
A registered dental hygienist, Katherine Harvey, went to Bea Underwood Elementary the first week and the Grand Valley Center for Family Learning on the second week to provide the children with professional cleanings, fluoride varnist and dental sealants.
Upon examination, many of the children had teeth that were rotten to the gums.
“Some of them had only brown fragments remaining,” said Carrie Godes, special projects coordinator for Garfield County Public Health. “They claimed they were not in any pain, but they’d gotten used to the constant aching.”
Godes said there are several factors to poor dental care and hygiene in area children. One is the lack of education on the part of parents on the importance of oral hygiene.
“There’s a lack of awareness that (dental decay) can be prevented,” Godes said. “So much can be done just by brushing your teeth.”
Another common misconception with children is that they have baby teeth that are going to eventually fall out anyway.
“But those teeth are holding the place for permanent teeth to come in,” Godes stressed.
Affordability of dental care and lack of insurance are also contributing factors to families not seeking dental care for their children.
“We were so excited to provide these services to children,” Harvey said. “Many families simply lack the knowledge that 99 percent of all cavities are preventable through proper preventative dental health care.”
In Colorado, nearly eight million hours of school are lost each year due to oral ain and 27 percent of kindergartners having untreated tooth decay.
The problem is representative of a larger issue facing Garfield County with limited resources for children who need affordable dental care. In response, a local coalition — tentatively being called “Be a Smart Mouth” — was formed in January 2009 and includes a local coalition of dentists, hygienists and health and human service organizations from Aspen to Parachute to look at sustainable dental solutions for low-income households.
“We are now aware of the need,” Godes said. “A state oral health coordinator came down and trained about 40 of us on how to talk to kids and seniors about how to care for your mouth.”
A followup free dental cleaning will be offered in the Battlement Mesa/Parachute area in the fall.

Colorado 4% fluoridated:NYSCOF