Mobile Dental Care Makes A Difference

Pequea Valley School District (PVSD) nurse Robin McCracken, who oversees students in grades seven through 12, is well aware of the statistics related to dental cavities. "It's the most common (unmet health need) according to the CDC," said McCracken, who added that dental health problems can affect overall health, but the good news is that they are preventable.

Together with nurse Joy Lewis, who works with kindergarten through sixth-grade students, and others in the PVSD, McCracken is hoping to battle those statistics among local students. "Education is a focus with teachers and school nurses in our district," said Lewis. During February, which is National Children's Dental Health Month, second-grade PVSD students will take part in a brushing challenge. "We will go over why we brush and how often, and students will have a chart they can color in," said Lewis. Later in the month, representatives of Byrnes Health Education Center in York will visit the elementary schools to teach about dental health.

Members of the Pequea Valley High School (PVHS) Health Club will also take part in the February activities, and members will prepare to host a booth focused on dental health education at the PVHS Spring Fling in May. Using hardened marshmallows to represent teeth, high school students will ask youngsters who attend the Fling to floss away bits of clay stuck between the marshmallows. "High school (students) teaching elementary (students) makes things more fun," said McCracken.

PVSD is connected to Union Community Care in New Holland, which provides a school dentist to complete yearly screenings for any student with parental permission. Dental evaluations are required for students in kindergarten or first grade, as well as third grade and seventh grade.

At least yearly, Smile Pennsylvania, a mobile dental service visits the district. The Smile Pennsylvania team sets up in a room at one of the schools and treats up to 25 students in a day. "(Smile Pennsylvania) accepts all insurances," said McCracken, who added that medical assistance is among those plans and that grants are available for qualifying families that do not have dental insurance. Smile Pennsylvania completes cleanings, restorations, X-rays, fluoride treatments, and sealants. Calling the Smile Pennsylvania team "kid-friendly," Lewis noted, "(Smile Pennsylvania staff) want it to be a pleasant experience (for students)."

"Dental care is a huge need," pointed out McCracken, who added that she and Lewis both work hard to identify students in need of care. "The best-case scenario is for every (student) to have a dental home," she added.

Readers who would like to register a student for care may visit http://www.pequeavalley.org and click on "The Dentist Is Coming to School" on the main page.