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Fast Facts:

California’s children have twice as much untreated decay as their national counterparts.

Only 10% of California’s 8-year olds get sealants for their first permanent molars.

Only 30% of Californians currently receive the benefits of fluoridated water.

Kern County Children’s Dental Health Network
1800 30th Street, Ste. #230
Bakersfield, CA 93301
Tel: 661.377.0322 or 661.377.0323
Fax: 661.377.0329

KCCDHN
Kern County Children's Dental Health Network

Providing children's dental services at school

The Kern County Children’s Dental Health Network (KCCDHN) began providing dental services for Kern County children in December, 2000. The program was developed as a partnership between the Kern County Superintendent of Schools and West Kern Community College District (Taft College Dental Hygiene Program). The program is funded by First 5-Kern (Proposition 10). The primary goal of the mobile school-based dental program is to decrease the amount of decay in children, 1-5 years of age by improving access to dental services.

The dental services are provided by a cadre of KCCDHN staff including Stacy Eastman, DDS, 5 local pediatric dentists, Daniel Launspach, DDS; Daniel Purdy DMD; Edward Dove, DDS PC; Robert Bang DDS; and Kurt W. Sturz, DMD MS; 4 Dental Hygienists in Alternative Practice; and 25 second-year dental hygiene students from Taft College Dental Hygiene Program.

The dental hygiene students provide the preventive services at a school site, under the direction of Stacy Eastman DDS. Their services include oral health education, an oral screening, a plaque index, a prophylaxis, application of fluoride, and sealants, if age appropriate. Children who are identified as needing further treatment are then given the opportunity to be treated by one of the local subcontracted pediatric dentists, Dr. Launspach DDS, Dr. Purdy DDS, Dr. Dove DDS or Dr. Bang DDS in their respective offices. There are no fees for any of the dental services provided.

Recipe for a Healthy Smile for Your Child Step 1: Start Early!  The earlier oral hygiene is started for your infant or child, the better.  Not only will it help to prevent early childhood caries, but it will also help to make oral hygiene routine by beginning at a very young age. Accordingly, there will be less resistance than if you start oral hygiene practices later.  Beginning a few days after birth, wipe your baby’s gums with a damp, clean wash cloth or wet gauze pad after every feeding. There are also finger cots on the market at baby and department stores with very short soft bristle-like tufts at the tip of the finger, but these are optional—a wash cloth or gauze works well. This helps to clear the mouth of liquids and bacteria. Even breast milk has sugar! Step 2: No Bottle at Bedtime! Another important preventative measure is to never give your infant or baby a bottle to sleep with.  Read More...