Dallas Dental Hygienists' Society and School
Nurses Team Up to Bring Prevention Power and a Fluoride Varnish Program to RISD
Kids!
For the past five years, Dallas Dental Hygienists'
Society has presented its "Prevention Power Facts for Kids" caries prevention
program in Richardson elementary schools. The program has brought dental
hygiene education to over 1,500 children in three RISD elementary schools.
Nyla Karim, R. N., school nurse for Mark Twain Elementary wanted to
expand the program to include the delivery of a fluoride varnish program for
kindergarten-3rd grade students of her school. Ms Karim became concerned for
the students with oral health problems and no access to dental care. She
stated, "My students come from mainly Hispanic and minority populations who do
not qualify for CHIPS or Medicare". She felt a fluoride varnish program would
be a wonderful service as most of her students do not have insurance or have
ever seen a dentist.
Ms. Karim met with Terri Patrick and Paula Harris
of the Dallas Dental Hygienists' Society to plan the Fluoride Varnish Program.
On February 17, 2006, DDHS brought its "Prevention Power Facts for Kids" school
education program into K-3rd grade classrooms for Mark Twain students. Plans
for the fluoride varnish program were achieved by collaboration with Dallas
Dental Hygienists' Society, Communities in Schools and Baylor College of
Dentistry.
On March 24, 2006, Ms. Karim's goal to bring a dental
screening day and fluoride varnish program to her students was implemented.
Baylor College of Dentistry dental students and the Dental School's Dentist
Supervisor, Dr. Nelson conducted the screening. Registered Dental Hygienists
from the Dallas Dental Hygienists' Society delivered the fluoride varnish
program to 160 school children. DDHS volunteers participating were: Paula
Harris, Kara Brady, Denise Frank, Amy Fredrickson, Kelly McCullough, Lynne
Durham and Dorthy McKearin. Guests from the schools and surrounding community
included: Gary Slagel, Mayor of Richardson, Tom Hatfield, Director of
Richardson Health Department, John Carona, Texas State Senator, Carol
Hendricks, Principal Mark Twain Elementary RISD, Alicia Grant, Immediate Past
President of the Texas Dental Hygienists' Association and a photographer from
the Richardson School Times Newspaper and the media division of Baylor College
of Dentistry.
This combined community program is the first
collaboration of a Dental Hygienists' Society, a School of Dentistry, and a
public school in Texas. Through programs such as these, school nurses, dental
hygienists and health care professionals can help plan future oral health
programs and make recommendations to improve oral health.
Dallas Dental
Hygienists' Society members were delighted to assist Ms. Karim, the students
and the community in this groundbreaking program to respond to children's oral
health problems. For the next calendar year, the program will expand to include
two fluoride varnish applications for the school children.
Dallas Dental
Hygienists' Society acknowledges the generosity of Crest Healthy Smiles 2010
for providing 300 Crest Spin toothbrushes, toothpaste, literature in Spanish
and English for the children and their families. Through events such as these
Crest is helping dental and dental hygiene professionals improve access to oral
health in underserved schools and communities.
(Please contact
Paula Harris to volunteer or
contribute to the program.)
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