2008-2009 Results are In!

Sealants for Smiles has completed it’s 2008-2009 school year. We have successfully fulfilled our mission providing school-based oral health education and dental sealants to the underserved children in Utah. We are proud to report what we have accomplished this year.

63 Schools Visited
390 Classrooms Visited
8,753 Children Educated
15,976 Sealants Placed on 4,629 Children
5,984 Children Screened
43% of the screened children had unmet dental needs
13% of the screened children had urgent dental needs

From July 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009:
We evaluated 29.3% of the sealants placed last year – a total of 1,678

Decay incidence is 3.0% (or stated another way, 97.0% of the children had no evidence of dental decay on the sealed teeth!)

A special thank you to all the people, organizations, communities, schools, volunteers, employees and professionals who have made it possible for us to make a difference. For more information on how you can contribute please visit http://www.sealantsforsmiles.org/

“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out”
-Robert Collier

Program is Effective in Preventing Dental Decay

An evaluation of 29.3% the dental sealants placed between July 2007-June 2008 (1678 dental sealants) on 2nd grade children attending Title I/Low-Income schools resulted in NO EVIDENCE OF DENTAL DECAY IN 97.0% OF THE TEETH SEALED!

Dr. Roger J. Adams
President and CEO
Sealants for Smiles

Swine Flu in Utah

Sealants for Smiles has cancelled its services in the schools due to the latest news about the swine flu in Utah. The decision was made with the best interests of the communities and families we serve in mind. We will keep you updated when more information is available.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued the attached link “H1N1 Influenza and You” with more in-depth information.

http://cdc.gov/h1n1flu/swineflu_you.htm

About Us!

Photos courtesy of Layton Elementary

Sealants for Smiles Sealants for Smiles is the only school-based dental sealants program in Utah. We provide oral health education and application of dental sealants to underserved Utah children. The program serves second and sixth grade children in Title I and low income schools, where more than 45% of children are eligible for free or reduced lunch. The program provides the following services:

1. Oral hygiene education for children.

2. Oral hygiene kits where each child receives a free toothbrush, floss and toothpaste.

3. Oral health screening.

4. Dental sealants.

5. Children with immediate needs are referred to low-cost or no-cost dental care.

Each classroom of 2nd and 6th grade teachers are responsible for obtaining health information and parental permission from the parents. Each classroom that has 100% of the children returning permission slips (regardless of whether the parents say yes or no to their child participating) receives $100.00 to use in the way each classroom sees fit. This allows many of these public schools to buy new books, microscopes or other educational materials for their children.

Some teachers from Layton Elementary shared their comments with us:

“Wow, what a neat program! I wish my kids school had a program like Sealants For Smiles.” -Mrs. Carmony, 2nd grade, Layton Elementary

“We will be using our incentive for math games and a class party!” -Mrs. Hager, 2nd grade, Layton Elementary

Look what Mrs. Pack had to say about their class receiving $100.00. “With the teacher incentive our class purchased a large, life size checker board. This is a great indoor activity it’s educational and fun.
This program is so great.”
-Mrs. Pack, 2nd grade, Layton Elementary

Sealants for Smiles is saving smiles one child at a time!

April 13-15, 2009 we have the opportunity to visit Northlake Elementary. They're a great school and it was fun to work with their enthusiastic children.

Look at what we were able to accomplish in just a few short days!

7 classrooms were visited
157 children received oral health education
102 children were screened
69 children received sealants
254 sealants were placed

36.3% of those children had unmet dental needs
10.8% of those children had urgent dental needs
10.8% of those children had moderate dental needs
14.7% of those children had early dental neeeds

Escalante Elementary

Photos Courtesy of Escalante Elementary

Escalante Elementary
1810 West 900 North
Salt Lake City, Utah 84116
801 578-8496

MISSION STATEMENT
"The Escalante community will take responsibility for the well-being and growth of our students and staff. We will promote the qualities of explorers by encouraging knowledge, strength, persistence, diligence, imagination, resilience, courage, and enough faith in ourselves to take risks."

This week Sealants for Smiles had the privilege of helping Escalante Elementary come one step closer in achieving their schools mission statement. By educating children on the importance of oral health and providing preventative oral care through dental sealants we united together with Escalante Elementary in promoting the responsibility for the well-being and growth of children within this community.

Look what we accomplished in just a few days!

8 classrooms were visited

191 children received oral health education

143 children were screened

109 children received sealants

404 sealants were placed

49% of the children had unmet dental needs

9.8% of the children had urgent dental needs

19.6% of the children had moderate dental needs

19.6% of the children had early dental needs