Oral Clinics for Children Who Can’t Afford Dentistry

A dental health initiative has been put into effect due to the lack of access to dental health care for students.

A dental health initiative has been put into effect due to the lack of access to dental health care for students. The Department of Education has recognized the absence of proper oral health and is requesting the services of dentists to participate in in-school oral health care clinics for students who cannot afford comprehensive dentistry. These clinics will offer cleanings, cavity fillings, and extractions. There will also be lessons given on tooth brushing, flossing, proper dental hygiene, cavity prevention techniques and even the effects of tobacco products on your mouth.

The Department of Education has reported that each year, nearly 51 million school hours in America are missed due to oral health-related illnesses with the most affected living in impoverished neighborhoods. Tooth decay has been proven to be five times more common than asthma, becoming the most common childhood disease. The children in these areas are most vulnerable to poor dental health and oral illnesses.

These oral health clinics will be set up in designated rooms at select schools in New York City. The clinics will be available to students during school hours, at least one day a week. Medicaid will fund all costs provided that each child is prepared with written parental consent.

This preliminary public health initiative will provide insight on how to improve and expand these dental services in the future. The success of such an effort could result in similar oral clinics spread across the nation as well as the rise of other forms of public health clinics.