Henry Elementary School in Clinton partnered with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Preventive Services Program (PSP) for students in grades pre-kindergarten through fifth. Over 500 children received an oral screening, two cavity prevention fluoride varnish applications (second application to be applied in fall 2012), oral health instructions and a free toothbrush and toothpaste. Three local dental hygienists conducted the oral screenings and several school nurses, nurse aids, and 21 trained occupational health students assisted with the fluoride varnish applications. The data collected during the oral screenings help identify students with unmet dental needs.

Below: Andra Ferguson, a local dental hygienist, conducts an oral screening on a Henry Elementary student during the elementary school oral health event on April 23, 2012.

It was a very smooth day at Canton R-V Elementary School, as 240 students from the schools’ Early Childhood Development Program through the 6th grade received their second application of fluoride varnish for the 2011-2012 school year. According to Diane Jorgensen, RN, school nurse, “The six ‘seasoned’ volunteers were able to stay ahead of schedule throughout the day, giving us an opportunity to treat them to a leisurely lunch, as meager payment for a job well-done.” Pictured below is volunteer Carla Steinbeck, with student, Damen Laudell (1st photo) and again with student, Jacob Meyer (2nd photo).

Utilizing students from professional programs to implement PSP in a community is a fantastic way to introduce them to community service. Each year under the supervision of faculty, students from the Missouri College’s Dental Hygiene Program in St. Louis get to take part in such an experience as they rotate between various schools in the area to provide dental screenings, fluoride varnish and oral health education. According to many of the students the experience is not only fun, but helps build their confidence as well.

Pictured here are Missouri College students, Kristopher Franz and Lesa Brewer and children from the Maplewood Richmond Heights Early Childhood Center.

On Thursday November 3, Hannah G. McClellan accepted an award from Missouri College on behalf of the Institute for Family Medicine. The award was in recognition of the partnership that the Institute has with the Missouri College Dental Hygiene Program and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’ Preventive Services Program. Through this collaboration, 358 young children in St. Louis and the surrounding area received dental screenings, fluoride varnish and a referral. In addition, 682 young children benefited from the oral hygiene education provided by the dental hygiene students this past fall. The Institute for Family Medicine has been a partner with PSP since 2008.

Pictured here from left to right are Trina Morgan, Missouri College Dental Hygiene Program Chair, Hannah G. McClellan, Program Manager at the Institute for Family Medicine and Karl Petersen, Missouri College President.

In November, students at Canton Elementary School in Lewis County took part in the Preventive Services Program for their second year in a row.  With the help and support of one dentist, Dr. C. Clark Todd, DDS, 243 children from preschool through the 6^th grade were screened, and with the additional help of the school nurse and a handful of community volunteers, the children received their first application of fluoride varnish for the year. 

According to school nurse, Diane Jorgensen, RN, “Dr. Todd is very community oriented.  He is very charitable and compassionate.”  She states that prior to the implementation of PSP, Dr. Todd has for more than 10 years set aside one Wednesday each year to provide dental screenings at this school, spending his entire day there. “We feed him lunch, but that’s the only reward he gets!” she comments.  Both the school and the families of the children attending this school appreciate the commitment and time this local dentist spends at Canton Elementary.

Pictured above are school nurse Diane Jorgensen, RN and Allie Ruffcorn.
Below are Michelle Frazier, RN and Avery Uhlmeyer.