Daytona Beach, Fla. - Students attending Title 1 schools in Volusia County now have more access to preventive dental services inside their school. The Department of Health (DOH) in Volusia County has expanded these services by adding an additional school-based dental team to care for students while they are at school.

"By offering dental care in a setting where the children are, we are providing access to care that a student otherwise may not have received," said DOH-Volusia Administrator Patricia Boswell. "That's important to a child's overall health. It's also very convenient for parents who may not have the time or the ability to take their child to a dentist."

As of October 31, DOH-Volusia dental staff had provided 13,629 dental-related services to 1,793 students this school year through the school-based Preventive Dental Program. Using mobile equipment, hygienists provide preventive services including dental assessments, cleanings, oral hygiene instructions, nutritional counseling, dental sealants and fluoride treatments. They provide referrals, as needed, for follow-up dental care and work with parents to get children who are experiencing pain into an office for comprehensive care. Children receive a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and a brushing timer.

The program reaches out to children most at risk, Boswell said. Racial and ethnic minorities and children from low-income families are less likely to receive preventive dental care and therefore more likely to suffer from untreated tooth decay. In adulthood, poor dental health has been connected to diabetes, heart disease, stroke, pre-term and low-birth weight babies.

Combined the two DOH preventive dental teams offer services to nearly 20,000 children in 39 Title I schools annually.

Parental permission is required for a child to participate in the preventive program. Each school year, DOH-Volusia provides consent forms to Volusia's Title 1 elementary schools. Students who return a signed form receive preventative treatments at no charge to patients.

For more information on the program, please call 386-274-0896 or visit volusiahealth.com/dental.

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About the Florida Department of Health

The department works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.