The U.S. Surgeon General’s 2000 report on the nation’s oral health says tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease, five times more common than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever. In 2010, over 40% of Arizona third graders had untreated tooth decay and 10% had pain, dental infection or teeth in need of urgent treatment. Each year, dental problems result in close to 52 million missed school hours in America! Our goal is to make sure that the students at Booth Fickett have healthy teeth and don’t have to live with tooth pain. The programs that come to our school give our students a chance to buck this trend and avoid the pain, expense and missed school days that go along with dental disease.
Big Smiles provides in-school dental care for enrolled students. Dentists come to our school and can perform dental cleaning, X-rays, fluoride treatment, treatment of cavities and even simple extractions. Enrollment forms must be completed every six months per state rules. Forms will be sent home early in the school year and at the start of the second semester. Once they receive the completed enrollment form, a member of Big Smiles will contact you by phone. We work together to have students in the program get their every 6 month exam and treatment here at school. The program accepts students who are covered by AHCCCS, dental insurance and have some space available for uninsured students. State regulations now require that dental problems requiring treatment (fillings,etc) require a second signed consent for the specific care to be provided, making this a two step process. Big Smiles provides care at our school between four and six times per year based on availability.
The Arizona School-Based Dental Sealant Program sponsored by the Pima County Health Department also comes to our school. Sealants are thin coverings brushed on the chewing surfaces of molars, the teeth in the back of your mouth that feel bumpy, protecting them from cavities. Studies have shown that sealants can reduce tooth decay in school children by more than 70%, protecting teeth and reducing expensive dental bills. This program targets 2nd and 6th grade students, the age when molars come in. Your students will bring home an enrollment form for this free program. Students who turn in completed forms, do not currently have sealants, and don’t have private dental insurance are eligible to have free dental sealants applied to their molars. A dental care van from the Health Department will come to school to see eligible students.
Big Smiles provides in-school dental care for enrolled students. Dentists come to our school and can perform dental cleaning, X-rays, fluoride treatment, treatment of cavities and even simple extractions. Enrollment forms must be completed every six months per state rules. Forms will be sent home early in the school year and at the start of the second semester. Once they receive the completed enrollment form, a member of Big Smiles will contact you by phone. We work together to have students in the program get their every 6 month exam and treatment here at school. The program accepts students who are covered by AHCCCS, dental insurance and have some space available for uninsured students. State regulations now require that dental problems requiring treatment (fillings,etc) require a second signed consent for the specific care to be provided, making this a two step process. Big Smiles provides care at our school between four and six times per year based on availability.
The Arizona School-Based Dental Sealant Program sponsored by the Pima County Health Department also comes to our school. Sealants are thin coverings brushed on the chewing surfaces of molars, the teeth in the back of your mouth that feel bumpy, protecting them from cavities. Studies have shown that sealants can reduce tooth decay in school children by more than 70%, protecting teeth and reducing expensive dental bills. This program targets 2nd and 6th grade students, the age when molars come in. Your students will bring home an enrollment form for this free program. Students who turn in completed forms, do not currently have sealants, and don’t have private dental insurance are eligible to have free dental sealants applied to their molars. A dental care van from the Health Department will come to school to see eligible students.
Check out the presentation below for you and your student to learn more about caring for your teeth and preventing cavities.