Providing children's dental services at school

frontpagepix: Pictures of Kids

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.


arrow: Tips on Getting Your Kids Motivated to Brush and Floss

One of the best ways to get your child to brush is to start them early when the first tooth erupts.  By establishing a routine, the routine hopefully becomes a habit, like combing your hair.  Before their first tooth erupts, wipe their mouth with a wet washcloth after feedings and begin brushing as the first tooth erupts.  Teething rings are available with a row of soft bristles at one end for baby’s play, associating tooth brushing with fun.  For babies and toddlers who cannot yet spit, use toothpaste without fluoride that tastes good to them, such as bubblegum or fruit flavor.   (Most children do not like mint flavor because it tastes “hot” to them).  Choose a toothbrush with soft bristles that is an appropriate size for their age and size of mouth for comfort and effectiveness.  Some toothbrush companies market a line of brushes with stages or ages marked on the brush, although this is a generalized guide as every child grows and develops at different rates.

If your child did not start brushing at a young age, and is now reluctant to start, begin by educating your child about the importance of good oral hygiene.  Explain how “sugar bugs” (plaque and bacteria) can cause cavities (holes in your teeth) to form from poor dietary choices (too much sugar!) and poor brushing habits that can really hurt.  Teach your child how brushing helps our breath to stay fresh, so our friends will like talking to us (we don’t want puppy dog breath!), how brushing keeps our teeth white, and our smiles looking like a movie star’s!  Young children might like looking at a tooth brush timer (colorful 2-minute timer) while they brush to motivate them to brush long enough (at least two minutes) twice a day. Other ways to keep them brushing for two minutes might include...



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