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Students at Hampton given reason to smile
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| By: Mark J. Crawford, Editor |
June 04, 2009 |
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Dr. Ed Morse from UF has worked with ACORN for four years and has been director of the clinic’s dental program for a year.
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Students at Hampton Elementary last Friday learning about dental health and receiving a cavity-preventing treatment thanks to a multiagency program known as Seal and Smile.
Diane Mauldin, executive director of ACORN Clinic, explained the Seal and Smile program is a cooperative effort. The University of Florida College of Dentistry is a primary partner with ACORN. Dr. Ed Morse, a UF faculty member, is ACORN's full-time dental director, and dental students from the university participate in the program as a learning experience.
Dental hygienists and assistants from ACORN assisted those dental students. One ACORN hygienist, Heather Lewis, also known as the "Tooth Fairy" talked to students waiting to be seen about caring for their teeth. The Bradford County Health Department's Tricia Clark and Kim Morgan, the school nurse at Hampton Elementary, also helped organize the event. Suwannee River AHEC provided supplies and educational materials for the program.
The cleanings took place in the jungle-themed dental bus on loan from the Baker County Health Department.
In addition to education about dental hygiene, Seal and Smile provided the students with an oral exam and fluoride brushing. If a child's teeth were in good condition, they were also coated with a sealant that helps protect them.
Morse said the sealant is a plastic-type material that fills grooves in the teeth and prevents cavities.
Permission forms to be seen and receive treatment were sent home prior to the event, Mauldin said.
Students with dental issues like cavities did not have their teeth sealed. Instead, their parents were provided with information on follow-up dental care. Morse said that included details on local clinics that provide services at reduced cost.
"We really try to educate kids and provide a little bit of service for them," said Morse, who has been involved with ACORN for around four years. That includes trying to slow down cavities in those that have them and getting them into a clinic for treatment, he said.
The best part is that families paid nothing to participate in the program as those who partner to provide the program cover those costs. By joining their missions to educate and serve, ACORN, UF, the health department and Suwannee River AHEC benefit each other and their communities.
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©Bradford County Telegraph 2010
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