Recorded presentation

Celeste Baranowski, RDH¹, Jody Bishop-Pullan, RDH², and Johnnie A. Lee, MD, MPH, FACP¹. (1) Department of Health and Social Services, City of Stamford Connecticut, 888 Washington Blvd., Stamford, CT 06904, (2) Dental, City of Stamford Connecticut, 888 Washington Blvd., Stamford, CT 06904, 2039774846, jbishoppullan@ci.stamford.ct.us

The Stamford Health Department has been operating school-based dental programs since 1928. Currently five full-time dental hygienists provide approximately 14,000 children with comprehensive oral health education; screenings, referrals and follow-up care at 25 elementary and middle public, private and parochial schools as well as 20 nursery schools and day care centers.

In 2000, grants from the Connecticut Health Foundation, PHS/Health Net and Anthem Blue Care funded the purchase of two portable dental units and supplies, enabling through their rotation, the implementation of a cutting edge dental health initiative: a sealant program targeted at second graders enrolled in the city’s public elementary schools.

The program has two discrete but complimentary goals: 1. to perform sealants as a preventive oral health measure, decreasing the need for later restorative care; and 2. to refer to restorative services in cases where evidence of dental caries renders a screened child ineligible for sealants.

To date, 1341 of the 2341second graders screened pursuant to this initiative have received sealants; 1000 have been referred for restorative care. Those lacking access to private care, or the means to pay sliding scale fees at the Dental Center of Stamford, were seen at the dental clinic at Stamford’s Westhill High School (operated by Student Health Services of Stamford, a non-profit that establishes and manages city School Based Health Centers). As is the case with all dental services provided in the school system, the sealant program, including restorative care furnished at Westhill, is delivered completely free of charge.

Learning Objectives: Those attending this session will learn the following

• The importance of sealants as a preventive measure in dental care for children.
• The positive impact that school-based dental programs can have the overall care of underserved populations in urban settings.

Keywords: Access to Health Care, Planning

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.

Recorded presentation