Abstract
Purpose: This paper describes the Preventive Services Program (PSP), a community based oral health program model which engages volunteers to provide preventive services and education for underserved children in Missouri. In 2006, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services created a program for children designed to use a systems approach for population-based prevention of oral disease. Currently, 5 part-time dental hygienists serve as Oral Health Program Consultants to work with the citizens of a community to engage dentists, dental hygienists, parents and other interested stakeholders in the activities of the program. Dental volunteers evaluate oral health and disease in the community's children and facilitate referrals for dental care. Other volunteers apply fluoride varnish and provide educational services to the children.
Program Outcomes: In 2006, 273 volunteer dentists and dental hygienists and 415 community volunteers provided oral screenings, oral health education, 2 fluoride varnish applications and referral for unmet dental care for 8,529 children. In 2011, 775 volunteer dentists and dental hygienists and 1,837 other community volunteers provided by PSP services to nearly 65,000 children.
Conclusion: It has been demonstrated that when the local citizens take responsibility for their own needs that a sustainable and evidence-based program like PSP is possible. Guidelines which provide criteria for matching models with the specific community characteristics need to be generated. Furthermore, a national review of successful program models would be helpful to those endeavoring to implement community oral health program.
- population-based
- oral health education
- preventive services
- fluoride varnish
- community-based models
- community volunteers
Footnotes
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Ann M. Hoffman, RDH, BSDH, is an Oral Health Consultant with the Oral Health Program, State of Missouri, Department of Health and Senior Services and an adjunct faculty member with the Division of Dental Hygiene, School of Dentistry University of Missouri – Kansas City. Bonnie G. Branson, RDH PhD, is a Professor with the Department of Dental Public Health and Behavioral Science. Nancy T. Keselyak, RDH, MA, is an Associate Professor with the Division of Dental Hygiene. Melanie Simmer-Beck, RDH, PhD, is an Associate Professor with the Division of Dental Hygiene, School of Dentistry. All are at the University of Missouri – Kansas City.
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This study supports the NDHRA priority area, Health Promotion/Disease Prevention: Validate and test strategies that increase health promotion and disease prevention among diverse populations.
- Copyright © 2014 The American Dental Hygienists’ Association