Tooth fairies

When a child’s teeth hurt, it’s difficult for them to concentrate on school, sleep and to eat healthy foods.

The “tooth fairy” and a team of dental staff ready to work their magic arrived at Falls Elementary School Friday for the kickoff of the Smiles Across Minnesota program in northern Minnesota.

Dental workers will check children’s teeth when they visit the three Koochiching County school districts — International Falls, Littlefork-Big Falls and South Koochiching/Rainy River — through the program that brings oral care to schools for families in need.

In some rural parts of the county, families drive many miles to access needed services. Sometimes, dentists are in short supply, or a family cannot sacrifice the time and money necessary to make the appointment. That is when this program steps in.

The service isn’t intended to take the place of a family’s regular dentist, said Sarah Wovcha, executive director of Children’s Dental Services and co-chair of Smiles Across Minnesota. This service is for families who do not have a dentist, are uninsured or underinsured, or are otherwise not able to access routine dental care.

Smiles Across Minnesota set up a mobile dental office in the elementary school’s health office Friday, complete with a reclining chair and all the necessary equipment to provide preventative dental care.

In addition to seeing their first dental patients Friday, a short assembly was held in the FES cafeteria — complete with a visit from the “tooth fairy” — for the students and to kick off the program.

The young students could hardly contain their excitement over the surprise visit of the fairy many only see in their dreams.

“Yes, I can fly. But not in school cafeterias,” the tooth fairy, whose name is Mia Rolle, told the attentive crowd. The students shared with her ways in which they can practice good dental care and were able to ask questions. The students ooh’d and aah’d over her pink wings, with tips that were white and shaped like teeth.

Cleaning, sealants, fluoride treatments, and one-on-one oral health education will be offered by a local team of dental hygienists and dental assistants. Smiles Across Minnesota may refer patients to area dentists for restorative care or bring in a specialist as the need arises.

Services will be offered on a sliding scale of payment based on family income. Some services will be offered for free, Wovcha said, to those in the most need.

Other guest speakers were Shelley Valentini, executive director of the United Way of Northern Minnesota; Julie Ehrman for the local United Way; Bob Jaszczak, superintendent of the South Koochiching/Rainy River school district; Jerry Hilfer, Falls Elementary School principal; Michelle Hebner, Falls School Board chair; and Amanda Ciatti, manager of program research and development of Oral Health America.

The program is a collaborative effort of Smiles Across Minnesota, Oral Health America, the local school districts, the United Way of Northeastern Minnesota and Delta Dental of Minnesota.

Challenges to service

“It’s been a really exciting and successful program,” Wovcha said. “We chose International Falls because we knew that it was another region that was very under served. We know that local dentists are already filled to capacity and that there are waiting lists for care. And that especially for kids that are on medical assistance or are uninsured, it’s very difficult to get in to see a dentist.”

Jaszczak explained that in District 363, which includes the Northome and Indus schools, more than half the students are eligible for the free/reduced lunch program, an indicator of poverty.

He also noted the large distance many of his students travel to get to school, as well as to services such as the dentist. “Getting to the dentist can be a real struggle for some of those families,” he said.

Area school officials agree that Borderland faces particular challenges in getting services to those who need them most and ensuring all students have an equal opportunity to learn.

“We are very thankful to anyone and everyone who can provide help or dental care to our folks in need,” Hilfer told the students Friday. “It takes more than a well-staffed school and equipment to educate our young people. We need to make sure children are healthy and well cared for so when they do come to school they are ready and able to learn.”

The program will allow students to have access to care their families may otherwise be unable to provide, officials say.

“It means that they have a way to have access to a provider in a very convenient location in their schools where there are no transportation barriers,” Wovcha said. “And that kids will really have a path to a healthier life, because we know that 51 million hours of school time are lost each year due to dental disease.”

Consent forms

Smiles Across Minnesota and Children’s Dental Services staff remind parents of area students to consider returning the consent forms which will be used to authorize and schedule services. Without the consent forms, children cannot be enrolled in the program.

As of Friday, only six consent forms had been returned in the Falls School District.

“We know there is much greater need,” Wovcha said, based on free/reduced lunch enrollment. She said they schedule services based on the number of consent forms received for each school.

Consent forms have been sent to District 361 families. Families who have children attending District 362 and 363 schools should receive forms shortly. Wovcha advises parents to return the forms so that services can be scheduled.

The service schedule will depend on need and the number of consents received, but she anticipates having each school in the county staffed once a month on Fridays, rotating between the schools.

Children’s Dental Services has been providing dental care in schools for 35 years, Wovcha said.

Smiles Across Minnesota offered a pilot program in 2005 in the Twin Cities area. This is the fifth location for the program. Smiles Across Minnesota is also in St. Cloud, the Iron Range, and Duluth besides the Twin Cities metro area.

Tips to promote oral health

• Brush teeth twice every day with fluoride toothpaste, floss daily.

• Eat a well-balanced diet, minimize sticky, sugary snacks.

• Drink water instead of sugary drinks such as soda and many juices.

• Make regular dental visits, the recommendation is every six months.

• A child’s first dental visit should be near their first birthday.

• Tell your dentist about medical conditions and medications.

• Wear protective mouth guards during sports, and wear a seat belt in a vehicle.