Public health brings dentistry to local schools
Plumas County Public Health Agency (PCPHA) is now able to re-focus its efforts on programs other than COVID-19. PCPHA’s Oral Health program, Healthy Smiles, started the new school year with oral health screenings at C.Roy Carmichael Elementary and Head Start in Portola on Sept. 9.
Registered Dental Hygienist Anna Hanlon and Health Education Specialist Christopher Rouse conducted assessments on over 140 students. Health Smiles is planning on continuing these screenings throughout the county in Quincy, Chester, and Greenville. See below for dates:
- September 23, 2022: Quincy Elementary Pioneer Campus and Head Start
- September 30, 2022: Quincy Elementary Alder Campus and FRC Child Development Center
- October 24, 2022: Chester Elementary and Chester Preschool
- November 14, 2022: Greenville Elementary and Greenville preschool
The free screenings include an oral health mouth assessment and fluoride varnish for those that have written consent for preschool and elementary students. Consent forms will be sent home with students well prior to the event. Students with decay get a notice to take home as well as follow up call for the child to receive care. PCPHA sends the students home with a fun and educational toothbrush kit plus a resource page to find local MediCal + non-Medical dental providers.
Oral health assessments take place twice a year. For more information on dentists’, oral health tips and more please visit www.PlumasDentists.com
From top left: Registered Dental Hygienist Anna Hanlon and kindergartner Elisandra Jauregui; and first-grader Sam Moore. Bottom left to right: third-grader Robbie Milby; and first-grader Piper Wolcott. Photo collage submitted
