A three-year grant amounting to $345,000 has been awarded by The Health Resources and Services Administration’s Office of Rural Health Policy to The McDowell Hospital in order to conduct an outreach program for preschoolers’ dental health care in McDowell.
The plan is purposely designed to promote education to daycare providers, expectant mothers and parents regarding the advantages of preventive dental health. The McDowell Hospital has invited a group of providers as well as dentists from the Mission Children’s Dental Program who will conduct dental examinations to children enrolled in any of the regulated daycare centers in the county. Moreover, the health department of McDowell County will also offer “fluoride varnish”, the most modern fluoride-based treatment to fight against tooth decay. This treatment will be administered by applying fluoride on the teeth of the children. For the rest of the preschoolers in McDowell County, dental exams and outreach events will be scheduled annually.
The dental program focuses on preschoolers because they are mostly affected by tooth decay which regularly goes untreated. Most parents are not aware of the importance of taking care of their children’s “baby teeth”. The program will teach the daycare providers and parents on how to keep baby teeth healthy.
“Good oral hygiene begins at birth,” according to Ed Hannon, The McDowell Hospital’ Chief Executive Officer. “Through community outreach and collaboration, we are committed to ensuring our youngest citizens of McDowell County are set on a lifetime path of good oral hygiene and healthy smiles.”
The McDowell Hospital can assist parents overcome financial and educational barriers to their children’s proper dental health care. Furthermore, the right to use dental health care will significantly improve with the cooperation of government agencies and community organizations.
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