Spotlight: School-Based Oral Health

Good oral health matters. It improves health outcomes related to major chronic conditions, lowers health care costs, supports confidence and self-assurance, and most importantly, improves lives.

However, there is the lack of access and opportunities to oral health care for rural and under-resourced communities nationally, including in communities across North Carolina. Kids and families have difficulty accessing regular oral health care due to the type of insurance they have, lack of providers in their communities, language barriers, or challenges getting out of work or school during the hours providers are open - all of which contributes to kids not being able to access adequate preventive care, and even treatment for tooth decay when they need it.

As a result, oral health is one of the top  drivers for school absences in low resourced communities, and tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among children. On average, children with poor oral health status are about three times more likely to miss school because of dental pain, absences that are associated with lowered school performance. Poor dental health can also lead to negative consequences for the mental health and confidence of children - who can face bullying along with other detrimental social effects.

The development and expansion of school-based oral health is one tool that schools and oral health providers are partnering on to expand access. The increase in implementation of the model creates some hope that future generations will be better positioned to achieve and maintain good oral health.

What is School-Based Oral Health
School-based oral health (SBOH) programs provide a range of preventive oral health services for children where they spend a majority of their time. By hosting clinics in schools, parents don’t have to miss work to get kids to dental appointments, which in some places can be the next county over. School-based clinics in regions without accessible care for children nearby also keep kids in class instead of in long car rides to dental appointments during school hours.

According to the NC Oral Health Collaborative, while the extent of services offered varies, every school-based dental program brings care out into the community. This care can include:

• Oral screenings and risk assessments
• Fluoride varnish applications
• Dental sealant applications
• Cleanings
• X-rays
• Radiographs
• Oral hygiene instruction
• Nutrition and/or tobacco counseling

Because SBOH happens in a variety of school settings, it can look any number of ways. Take for example Kinston’s SBOH program at Rochelle Middle School, recently visited by Blue Cross NC Foundation’s Daijah Davis. The SBOH team from the Kinston Community Health Center consists of a dentist, two hygienists, their dental unit manager, and a patient navigator who is also a dental assistant. The team provides dental services two days a week at school, ranging from pre-k through 8^th grade, where they bring portable equipment to set up shop within the school. They pride themselves on collaboration - the very mindset that has led to recent success from the organizations committed to this work.