The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #61659

Srismitha Modem, BDS¹, Amos S. Deinard, MD, MPH², Diane E. Dimmock, RDH, MSEd³, and Bill Muden, BA³. (1) Division of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, 1250 Mayo Building, Minneapolis, MN 55455, 6128020909, mode0021@umn.edu, (2) Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, MMC 85, 420 Delaware Street S.E, Minneapolis, MN 55455, (3) Hartford Public Schools Dental Program, 1750 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06120

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of the school dental health program in the Hartford public schools. Methods: The data were obtained from the school-wide, web-based dental billing system. Stata software was used to analyze the secondary data to assess the relationship between the demographic variables (age, gender, race, etc.) and the service variables (number of visits, procedure codes, etc.). Results: There is not much difference in the number of first visits made by the children to the school dental clinics by race and there is no disparity in number and type of procedures done by race. Statistical inference using chi-square analysis showed that the student’s grade is related to treatment done. With respect to services provided, 40.9% were for periodic oral exams, 3.05% were for sealants and 1.34% were for fluoride treatments. Conclusions: School dental clinics are effective in improving oral health of ethnically diverse school-aged children from low-income families. Better ways to improve the oral health of school-aged children through school-based clinics have been identified.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to:
• Learn that school dental health programs are an effective way of improving the oral health of children of ethnically diverse, low income families.
• Evaluate the dental health program of Hartford public schools, Connecticut.
• Prioritize education of students through integration with regular curriculum and working with teachers, parents and oral health professionals.

Keywords: Child Health, Oral Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.