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INTRODUCTIONTooth decay (cavities) is one of the most preventable chronic diseases in children. Untreated tooth decay can cause pain and infections, and for a child can lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing and learning. It can also contribute to other chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease later in life.
Effective prevention measures exist that everyone can adopt to improve oral health. These measures include:- Daily oral hygiene procedures (Brushing, flossing)
- Eating healthy (Limiting sugars, starches and unhealthy snacks)
- Routine dental examinations (Including examinations for cancers)
- Dental sealants
- Fluoride (Through a water supply, toothpaste or rinses, or fluoride varnish treatments)
- Quitting (or not starting) commercial tobacco
ORAL HEALTH SMCHD SERVICESThe Healthy Smiles Program began in 2008 in response to the oral healthcare disparity in Shawano County children. Today, Shawano County Healthy Smiles (SCHS) participates as a grantee in the Wisconsin Seal-A-Smile program, whose mission is to “Improve the Oral Health of Wisconsin Students by Providing School-Based Dental Sealants.” This is a collaborative program between the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Delta Dental of Wisconsin Foundation, and the Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin, working with dental providers to offer school-based oral health education, dental screenings, fluoride varnish treatment, and dental sealants to children at no cost.
Find out more about this program, or if your child’s school participates
The SMCHD can help you connect with lower cost dental clinics if your income is limited:
Oral Health Program: Find Dental Care | Wisconsin Department of Health ServicesDATAAccording to Oral Health Fast Facts (cdc.gov)- By age 8, over half of children (52%) have had a cavity in their primary (baby) teeth.
- Children from low-income families are twice as likely to have cavities as children from higher-income families.
- 1 in 4 adults aged 20 to 64 currently has cavities.
- On average, 34 million school hours are lost each year because of unplanned (emergency) dental care, and over $45 billion in US productivity is lost each year due to untreated dental disease.
And in Wisconsin:- About one in five head start children aged three to five have early childhood tooth decay. One in four Head Start children have untreated tooth decay and need treatment. By age five, one in two Head Start children have had tooth decay.
- One in five third-grade children have untreated tooth decay. One in two third-grade children have had tooth decay.
- One in six ninth graders need dental treatment for tooth decay.
CURRENT EVENTS
Even though February was National Children’s Dental Health Month, the SMCHD continues to promote the benefits of good oral health to our community!
EVALUATIONThe Wisconsin Seal-A-Smile (SAS) program is a nationally recognized school-based sealant program and is celebrating 25 years of providing preventive care to students in participating schools. The Wisconsin SAS program ensures programs are following proper infection control protocols, providing case management and referrals to students, and offering services to every student in the school at no cost, regardless of income or insurance status. Since 2021, SMCHD has partnered with and endorsed Healthy Smiles, LLC to support the Wisconsin SAS Program for our schools throughout the Shawano and Menominee Counties jurisdiction.2023 Shawano County Seal-A-Smile DataRESOURCESOral Health Program | Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Oral Health - Children's Health Alliance of Wisconsin (chawisconsin.org)
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