Smart Smiles School-based Oral Health

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Overview
Dental caries is the most prevalent childhood disease in the country and the primary cause of school absenteeism, yet no organized system of preventive oral health care for children exists in Milwaukee. Although more than 50% of Milwaukee Public School children are enrolled in or eligible for programs to provide dental care, very few Milwaukee children have received preventive oral health care that would improve their health and school attendance. Serving children within the schools is a winning strategy because children are comfortable there, parents can provide consents easily and the logistics of transportation for children and parents taking off of work are avoided.

The St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Dental Clinic (SEASDC) strategy for care includes a dentist’s diagnosis of the child’s oral health; provision of fluoride treatments to all children; provision of dental sealants to coat healthy teeth and avoid future caries; and provision of dental hygiene prophylaxis and debridement as appropriate. Insured children with need for restorative dental care are referred to their HMO or insurance provider.

SEASDC has had a program of School-based care for nine years, but had been able to care for fewer than 1,000 children per year because of dependence on grants as the only means of support. In 2006, negotiations were successful to allow billing to BadgerCare and Medical Assistance for covered children. Grants from the State of Wisconsin, Delta Dental, Northwestern Mutual Miracle on Canal Street and Children’s Health Alliance help to cover the non-insured children. In 2007, three teams of dental hygienists and dental assistants will deliver school-based care. MADC projects to serve more than 3,800 children in the 2009-2010 school year as a result of the support, making the program the largest in the state.

Patient Story
More Than Just About Teeth — Tyler’s Story

Tyler is a young man who is serious about managing his insulin dependent diabetes. Although he is only an eighth grade student, he has learned a great deal about the challenges of managing a chronic illness. He and his parents monitor his nutrition, adjust his insulin and work with Crystal Hoecherl, the Milwaukee Public School nurse, to improve his health. Despite all of their efforts however, his blood sugar levels were frequently high.

In October, Tyler participated in a School-Based Oral Health Program offered by the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Dental Clinic (SEASDC). After a dentist evaluated his teeth and gums, Tyler received a dental prophylaxis treatment from Pam Prenger, a SEASDC dental hygienist. Pam found him to be a cooperative and pleasant patient who did have some gum disease and benefited from the treatment.

Pam was pleased to see Tyler in the school corridor about two weeks after the treatment. He approached Pam with a shy smile and said, “I try hard to control my blood sugar, talking to the school nurse, watching what I eat and using insulin regularly; but since you cleaned my teeth, my gums are healthier and my blood sugars are much more under control”.

Health research often describes the complicating interactions between infections and diabetes. Gum infections are often hidden sources of trouble for diabetics. No research could have said it better than Tyler did – oral health is much more than just about teeth and gums. The health and wellness of the whole child depends on good oral health care. A great partnership between Tyler, his family, the MPS nurse and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Dental Clinic (SEASDC) will continue to work to allow Tyler to be in the best health possible.

Participating Schools in 2009-2010

• Academy of Learning & Leadership
• Auer Avenue Elementary
• Boys & Girls Club- Davis
• Brown St. Academy
• Bruce Elementary
• Carson Academy of Science
• Carver Academy of Mathematics and Science
• Child Development Center of St. Joseph
• Curtin Leadership Academy
• Early View Academy
• Fletcher Elementary
• Franklin Elementary
• Gaenslen Elementary
• Garden Homes Elementary
• Hawthorne Elementary
• Hopkins Street School
• Keefe Avenue
• Kluge Elementary School
• LaFollette Elementary School
• Lloyd Street Global Education School
• Maple Tree Elementary
• Milwaukee Education Center
• Metcalfe Elementary
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School
• Milwaukee Seventh Day Adventist School
• OW Holmes Elementary School
• RiverTrail Elementary
• Sixty-Fifth Street School
• St. Catherine
• St. Charles
• Starms Discovery Learning Center
• Starms Early Childhood Center
• Starms Monumental
• Story Elementary
• Thoreau Elementary
• Townsend Street School
• Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning
• Westside Academy I
• Westside Academy II

Contact Information
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Dental Clinic (SEASDC)
1730 S. 13th St.
Milwaukee, WI 53204

Liz Nelson, Smart Smiles Project Specialist
T: (414) 383-3220
F: (414) 383-3363