Houston Department of Health and Human Services 8000 North Stadium Drive #26 Houston TX

CITY OF HOUSTON

Houston Department of Health and Human Services 8000 North Stadium Drive #26 Houston TX 77054-1823 713-732-5065

Program Overview

Oral health plays a significant part in one’s overall health and well being. The 2001 Dental Needs Assessment in Harris County revealed

45.9% of 2nd graders had untreated decay.

It is known children who suffer from oral health problems cannot learn well in school. Using an evidence and community-based public health dental approach, Project Saving Smiles (PSS) provides dental screening, dental sealants, fluoride varnish, and oral health education free of charge targeting 2nd graders enrolled in the Free or Reduced Lunch Program and who have written parental consent. In a collaborative effort, the Houston Department of Health & Human Services, Good Neighbor Healthcare Center, Department of State Health Services, Women of Rotary, Texas Oral Health Coalition-Houston Region, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston – Dental Branch, Houston Community College, area schools, and other partners provide these preventive services.

Dental sealants are thin coatings applied to the chewing surface of the back teeth to prevent cavities. Sealants fill in the deep pits and grooves where food and plaque (bacteria) accumulate. Sealants, at times, may need to be reapplied to remain protective to the teeth. The sealants placed on the children’s teeth may be checked after one year to ensure they are retained. If needed, new sealants will be placed. Fluoride varnish is a protective coating painted on the teeth to help prevent new cavities and to stop cavities that have already started. No anesthesia is needed for the applications.

The PSS targets schools in Houston that have high percentages of students on the Free or Reduced Lunch Program. For the School-Year 2011- 12, PSS plans three missions at Good Neighbor Healthcare Center and three missions at Sunnyside Health Center:

Good Neighbor Healthcare Center Sunnyside Health Center

190 Heights Blvd. Houston TX 77007 9314 Cullen Houston TX 77051

October 31 – November 4, 2011 November 14 – 18, 2011

January 9 – 13, 2012 January 23 – 27, 2012

April 16 – 20, 2012 February 27 – March 2, 2012

PSS will serve a total of 4,050 – 4,800 2nd graders at these six missions.

Goal 1: Reduce dental cavities/decay in low-income students

Objectives:

1. To screen 4,050 – 4,800 2nd graders in these schools and identify cavity free 1st permanent molars to be sealed

2. To provide dental sealants for 100% of the students screened who have neither cavities, fillings, nor existing sealants on their 1st permanent molars

3. To provide fluoride varnish for 4,050 – 4,800 students screened

4. To provide oral health education for 4,050 – 4,800 students screened

5. To improve oral health knowledge

Goal 2: Increase school attendance

Objective:

1. To decrease student absences due to oral health problems