A pupil receives care from a dental service supplier. The Hawaii Dental Service Basis has supplied a $133,447 grant to assist proceed the Hawaii Keiki-HDS Dental Sealant Program that goals to offer native public faculty college students with dental sealants, which assist forestall cavities on everlasting molars. Photograph courtesy of UH
Hawaii Dental Service Basis has supplied a $133,447 grant to proceed a public faculty dental sealant program that screened greater than 650 college students on Maui, Kauai and Oahu final faculty 12 months, with two-thirds receiving dental sealants for gratis.
The Hawaii Keiki-HDS Dental Sealant Program was developed in 2019 to coordinate dental screenings and supply on-site dental sealants at high-need Title I public elementary faculties, in accordance with a information launch from the College of Hawaii. Dental sealants assist to stop cavities on everlasting molars, and the applying of the sealants is fast, noninvasive and painless. Sealants are routinely utilized by a dentist to keiki round second or third grade.
Youngsters in Hawaii have among the many highest charges of dental decay (cavities) within the nation with 71 % of Hawaii’s third graders experiencing tooth decay, in accordance with a 2015 state Division of Well being report, which additionally discovered that 7 % wanted pressing dental care, as in comparison with the nationwide fee of 1 %. Greater than 60 % of third graders in Hawaii didn’t have sealants on everlasting molars.
The Hawaii Keiki-HDS Dental Sealant Program goals to extend the variety of kids who obtain dental sealants. This system gives oral well being assessments and dental sealants for gratis and brings licensed dentists and dental hygienists to the college to attenuate college students’ time away from class, in accordance with the information launch. Households of taking part college students obtain evaluation studies, referrals and oral care kits, and college students who want pressing dental care obtain referrals to group dental service suppliers.
Over the last faculty 12 months, this system screened 653 public faculty college students at 28 faculties on Maui, Kauai and Oahu, with 430 college students, or about 66 %, who obtained dental sealants. The screenings additionally recognized 31 kids who required pressing dental care.
This system will proceed to display extra DOE college students through the present faculty 12 months.
“The faculties and fogeys simply love this program as a result of we’re offering secure and efficient sealants to stop future cavities,” stated Deborah Mattheus, the Hawaii Keiki-HDS Dental Sealant Program director. “Along with sealing tooth, we’re screening college students for pressing dental situations and making referrals to get them rapid care. It’s arduous to be taught when you’ve got sore tooth. We’re additionally instructing the children concerning the significance of brushing and flossing each day.”
The dental sealant program is a partnership between the Hawaii Dental Service Basis and Hawaii Keiki: Wholesome and Able to Be taught, a collaboration between the UH-Manoa Nancy Atmospera-Walch College of Nursing and the state Division of Training. The Hawaii Keiki program goals to maintain children wholesome and able to be taught by offering entry to nursing providers in public faculties.
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- A pupil receives care from a dental service supplier. The Hawaii Dental Service Basis has supplied a $133,447 grant to assist proceed the Hawaii Keiki-HDS Dental Sealant Program that goals to offer native public faculty college students with dental sealants, which assist forestall cavities on everlasting molars. Photograph courtesy of UH
