Innovative Approaches to Oral Health
Here are some of the innovative, model approaches to oral health care for low-income Head Start families in Minnesota.
The Tooth Book: A Guide to Caring for Your Child's Teeth
Through funding from the Delta Dental Plan of Minnesota, the Minnesota Head Start Association and Parents In Community Action, Inc. Head Start along with health advisors from across Minnesota developed The Tooth Book - a culturally appropriate guide to caring for children's oral health from birth through teenage years. Since its release in 2004, 30,000 copies have been distributed to Head Start parents and discussed in Head Start home visits and parent education sessions. Available in three language formats, Spanish Somali and Hmong, this book is an important Head Start oral health education tool and reference for parents. Check out how Minnesota Head Start grantees use THE TOOTH BOOK in parent education.
Early Head Start (EHS) Primary Prevention Oral Health Campaign
Through funding from the Delta Dental Plan of Minnesota, the Minnesota Head Start Association contracted with consultants from the University of Minnesota and Marquette University School of Dentistry to develop a unique training program for Early Head Start home visitors. Staff learned to conduct caries risk assessment on infants and toddlers and to teach age-appropriate preventive strategies to parents. Through this training, home visitors are able to identify early signs of oral and environmental risk factors and to make appropriate referrals to dental professionals. Results of the first two years of this project are now available in powerpoint format.
Dental Health Screening and Fluoride Varnish Application
With funding from the Santa Fe Group and the American Dental Trade Association, Dr. Amos Deinard, in partnership with the University of Minnesota, developed a web-based training program that instructs primary care medical providers on how to promote dental health prevention as part of well-child care for high-risk children. Visit the Dental Health Screening and Fluoride Varnish Application at: http://meded1.ahc.umn.edu/FluorideVarnish/.
Bright Smiles
With primary funding from the Knight L. Foundation, the United Way contracted with Open Cities Health Center and West Side Community Health Services to hire bilingual, bicultural outreach workers to educate parents about proper oral health practices, perform initial screening of children and provide a fluoride varnish as appropriate. Bright Smiles also provides reimbursement to other partnering community clinics for services rendered to uninsured children. Visit the Bright Smiles website at: www.unitedwaytwincities.org.
Healthy Smiles
The Greater Twin Cities United Way, in partnership with the Lao Assistance Center and The Southeast Asian Community Council, offers an evening oral health education program for Hmong and Laotian children and their families. Families are provided with a meal, transportation, childcare, and a $25 stipend upon completing this educational session delivered in their primary home language. For more information about Healthy Smiles contact: Carla McMorris.
Healthy Smiles for the Red River Valley
Through a broad community-based partnership, including Head Start, WIC, Public Health, Migrant Health and others serving low-income families, the Red River Valley Healthy Smiles initiative provides low-income parents with appropriate knowledge regarding proper oral hygiene practices, access to dental screenings for their young children, and includes community-based approaches to removing barriers that prevent access to dental treatment. This initiative is funded through multiple sources including the Healthy Tomorrow Partnership for Children. Visit the Red River Valley Dental Access site at: http://www.rrdentalaccess.com.
Apple Tree Dental/Head Start Teledentistry Project
The Teledentristry project, planned for and piloted in five Minnesota Head Start programs with federal funding, is an innovative approach to alleviating many of the hassles and barriers low-income families with young children face in accessing dentists and receiving dental exams. In the Teledentistry model, dental hygienists provide on-site services at Head Start facilities including capturing images of children's teeth so that an offsite collaborating dentist can review findings and make the diagnosis needed to schedule treatment.. This model maximizes the dentists' and Head Start families' time, and emphasizes prevention, education and establishing dental homes.The pilot project was highly successful and partners have requested funding to implement it across Minnesota. For more information and the Apple Tree Dental/Teledetistry Project visit their website at: www.appletreedental.org.
Children's Dental Services (CDS)
Children's Dental Services has been nationally recognized for developing the first Head Start Site-based Dental Services Program in the nation 35 years ago. CDS implements a Teledentistry Program with Head Start partner sites, which eliminates transportation barriers for families, resulting in improved access to care. CDS provides on-site dental services at several Head Start centers and hires bi-lingual staff who reflect the children and families served. Through their years of commitment to Head Start families, CDS has developed a number of best-practices in providing culturally competent, high quality dental services even in cases where the family has no coverage. For more information about Children's Dental Services visit: www.childrensdentalservices.org.
Oral Healthcare Solutions Project
Led by Apple Tree Dental, local Minnesota stakeholders with support from national experts, developed a new Oral Healthcare System model featuring patient-centered, evidence-based strategies that will expand access and enhance the delivery of oral healthcare services to people of all ages enrolled in Minnesota's Health Care Programs (MHCP). The Minnesota Department of Human Services funded the planning phase with over 50 partnering organizations and individuals involved including dental professionals, educators, Head Start and Community Action Programs, advocacy groups, State agencies, health plans, and community clinics. A Pilot Project of the new system is expected. For more information about this program visit www.appletreedental.org.
Statewide Oral Health Action Plan
Click here to access the Statewide Oral Health Action Plan.
