Dental program proposed for parish schools

A dental screening program is proposed for St. Landry Parish public schools that may start as soon as the next school year.
The dental program is through 232-HELP, an information service. The service also is accessed by dialing 211.
School Board members were presented with the dental program at the board’s executive committee meeting Monday.
The Children’s Dental Health Education Initiative began in 2014 in Lafayette and St. Mary parishes.
Rae Logan, executive director of community outreach for 232-HELP, said, “One of the things that came to our attention is that nationally there is a mini-crisis in young children with cavities and things like that. There is really no reason because it is preventable.”
Edward Brown, school superintendent, said School Board support is more than likely for the program, which means it could start in the next school year.
“I think the problem is well worth it,” he said.
The program partners with Donated Dental Program and Colgate Corporation’s Bright Smiles/Bright Futures program to bring a dental van to the parish
The program is designed to screen children from 3 to 8 years old.
In the 2014 pilot program in Lafayette and St. Mary parishes, 940 children were screened. Of those, nine needed emergency dental care. There were 232 children who needed anything from dental care within a month to the emergency cases.
In last year’s program, volunteer dentists were joined by LSU Dental School student hygienists, she said.
Logan said parents must agree to the screening and a dental report card is sent home. Children are also given a package of dental care products.
“Other than diabetes, more children are seen in the emergency room of hospitals for dental issues and there is no reason for it,” Logan said. “It is a matter of education and access to care. And, that is what we are trying to do.”
Janeice Armes, Donated Dental Program coordinator, said the dental screening bus is capable of handling about 340 children a day.
Mary Ellen Donatto, a Eunice area School Board member and former principal at East Elementary, said Medicaid pays 100 percent of dental costs.
Armes said, “Even though they have Medicaid, it is not happening.”
Cavities are often found in children who are covered by Medicaid, she said.
The screening “is a nice event for them and they really enjoy it,” Armes said.
Logan and Dr. John Hendry, a pediatric dentist, in a letter, stated, “The statistics are alarming. The rate of tooth decay in primary teeth of children aged 2 to 5 years increased nearly 17 percent from 1988-1994 to 1999-2004. Based on most recent data, 28 percent of children aged 2 to 5 years in the entire U.S. population are affected by tooth decay. Yet, most tooth decay is preventable if children see a dentist early enough.”