BACHC program offers no-cost dental assessments, oral health education, dental sealants and fluoride varnish
Next month begins an initiative to bring dental assessments, oral health education, dental sealants and fluoride varnish to the students of the Beloit School District at no cost to families.
Dental sealants help prevent 80 percent of cavities in back teeth, where 9 in 10 cavities occur. In Wisconsin, 1 in 5 children in third grade have untreated dental disease which is preventable. “That is why applying a sealant to the teeth of the children in the Beloit School District is so important,” said Cori Tucker, dental manager at Beloit Area Community Health Center.
Through the Seal-A-Smile program, BACHC is able to offer no-cost dental assessments, oral health education, dental sealants and fluoride varnish at each child’s school. Tucker shared that by applying sealants at the school, students do not miss out on valuable classroom learning traveling to the dentist. Sealants also help prevent cavities which can cause pain and discomfort which makes eating or concentrating in class difficult.
“The Seal-A-Smile program with BACHC has been a great resource to the students in the Beloit School District,” said Michelle Babilius, director of school health services. “BACHC comes to our schools and provides sealants, along with referrals for additional dental care, if needed. Their dentists and hygienists do a wonderful job ensuring our students receive good oral health care at no cost.”
Last year, 1,539 students of the School District of Beloit participated in the program. “We are hoping to increase the number of students we see this year. The students, teachers and administrators have been wonderful to work with through the years. The students receive preventive services to maintain good oral health as they grow into adulthood,” said Tucker.
Consent forms will be sent home with 4K through 8th grade students in the district for a parental signature. Beloit Memorial High School students are encouraged to pick up the form at the nurse’s office. Parents can also sign students up on the Seal-A-Smile website.
Seal-A-Smile is funded by the Wisconsin Seal-A-Smile program, a collaborative program of Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and Delta Dental of Wisconsin.
