Dental Health

t N.C. dental public health program | smart start dental project
ii FAQs |iresources |dental tips | children's dental fun
| parent questions

Diana Rothweiler, RDH
Smart Start Dental Hygienist
Henderson County Department of Public Health

Nancy Donnelly, RDH
Public Health Dental Hygienist
Serving Henderson and Transylvania Counties
NC Oral Health Section
Division of Public Health
Department of Health and Human Services

(828) 692-4223

N.C. Dental Public Health Program

The mission of the North Carolina Oral Health Section is to promote conditions in which all North Carolina citizens can achieve optimal oral health.

In working towards a decay-free generation of North Carolina children, the Section's program is organized into four broad components:

1. Health education/health promotion
2. Prevention
3. Oral health assessment
4. Access to care

Specific services include dental assessments and screening, referral and follow-up, oral surveys, health education, health promotion, promotion and monitoring of water fluoridation, and dental sealants. All of our services are aimed at reducing preventable oral diseases including tooth decay, periodontal disease and oral cancer, and reducing the effects of accidents and injuries.

If you would like more information about the N.C. Dental Public Health Program in Henderson and Transylvania Counties, please contact Nancy Donnelly at (828) 692-4223 ext. 6069 or 884-3135.

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Smart Start Dental Project

The Henderson County Partnership for Children (Smart Start) aided the Henderson County Department of Public Health in being able to offer two very worthwhile dental programs in Henderson County. They include:

1) Fluoride Varnish Project

Fluoride varnish is a thick liquid that is painted on the teeth to prevent tooth decay. Through the WIC department at the Henderson County Department of Public Health, fluoride varnish is being offered to children beginning at age nine months and continuing every six months until age 36 months old. Fluoride varnish is safe, fast, and easy to apply. At each fluoride varnish/WIC visit, parents receive dental health education while children receive their fluoride varnish application. This combination of education and preventive treatment helps children develop good lifelong dental health habits. Fluoride varnish is an effective treatment to prevent tooth decay in very young children who are at risk for dental decay. If you want more information about fluoride varnish, please contact Diana Rothweiler at (828) 692-4223 ext. 6067.

2) Tooth Time

Tooth Time, a dental education curriculum for preschool children, is offered to day care centers to use in the classroom to teach basic oral health concepts to children ages four and five. This program also reaches parents with information that goes home with the children. The curriculum was designed to offer one week of dental lessons and activities that teachers can use in the classroom. This material can be used as much or as little as the teacher likes each day. However, the children will need to be exposed to each dental health topic so that on the overview day, the overall objective will be successfully met. In order to check out the Tooth Time kit, teachers will need to receive training on how to teach dental health using the resources found in the kit. The training takes approximately one hour, and day care providers will obtain continuing education credit for this training. Contact Diana Rothweiler, RDH, at (828) 692-4223 ext. 6067.

3) Dental Screening/Treatment

This program provides dental screening by the dental hygienist for children ages 3-5 years old. Screening is done in daycare centers and homes in Henderson County. This program also provides funding to send disadvantged children who are in need of dental care to a dentist. Thirteen dentists in Henderson County and three pediatric dentists in Buncombe County are participating in the program. Contact Diana Rothweiler for more information concerning this program.

For additional information, contact the NC Partnership for Children (Smart Start).

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FAQs

Q. Do you provide dental education to schools, churches, daycares, etc.?
A. We can provide dental education to groups. Contact our public health dental hygienists. 

Q. Can you provide In-Service training on dental health?
A. We can provide In-Service dental health education for staff training. Contact our public health dental hygienists.

Q. Are dental resources available to teach dental health?
A. Yes, we can provide dental resources that the community may use. Tooth Time is a dental health curriculum that daycare teachers can check out from the Henderson County Department of Public Health. See Smart Start Dental Project to find out more about this program. We can teach dental health and provide resources to schools and community and business groups.

Q. What is Tooth Time for preschool children?
A. Tooth Time is a dental education curriculum for preschoolers ages 4-5 who are in daycare. Daycare teachers may call (828) 692-4223 ext. 6067 to find out how to check out a kit for your center.

Q. What is fluoride varnish?
A. Fluoride varnish is a thick liquid that is painted on the teeth and is used to prevent tooth decay. Fluoride varnish is the latest and preferred fluoride treatment for young children. It is being applied on young children ages 9 months to 36 months at the Henderson County Department of Public Health through the WIC program. Call (828) 692-4223 and ask for Diana Rothweiler to find out if your child qualifies for this service.

Q. Can you provide dental health education/materials or provide an exhibit for a health fair?
A. Yes, we are available for community/school events or health fairs. Call Nancy Donnelly or Diana Rothweiler to schedule at (828) 692-4223.

Q. Do you offer dental education to pregnant women?
A. Yes, dental education is available for pregnant women at the health department. Contact Kaye Thompson or Diana Rothweiler at (828) 692-4223.

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Resources

Some limited dental statistics are available if needed for program planning. Contact Nancy Donnelly or Diana Rothweiler at (828) 692-4223 for information. Other links that can provide more information are:

• American Dental Association
• American Dental Hygienists Association
• National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research
• NC Oral Health Section
• NC Partnership for Children (Smart Start)

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