Community project funding/congressionally directed spending - non-construction - chcrr's school-based oral health care project will provide free oral health services for school-age children ages…

Community project funding/congressionally directed spending - non-construction - chcrr's school-based oral health care project will provide free oral health services for school-age children ages five to 10 (grades K-3) in the rutland city public schools. The program, which will begin operations in fall 2022, is intended to build good oral health practices for children and families, provide preventive services, facilitate treatment for emerging conditions, and link children to a dental health home at chcrr's newly-established community kids dental clinic in rutland. This project will address the needs of an estimated 330 children in the city's three schools serving elementary age students. These rural, low-income children are more than twice as likely to have untreated tooth decay as children with family incomes greater than 200% of the federal poverty level. One of the schools included in the project serves the 3RD-most impoverished population of students in the state. Tooth decay, if left untreated, can lead to problems in eating, speaking, and learning. Strong evidence demonstrates the effectiveness of preventive dental care services, and increasing low-income children's access to these services is a critical health goal. The program will be staffed by a dental hygienist, dental assistant, and pediatric dentist, and managed by chcrr's dental practice manager. The hygienist will visit each of the three schools monthly and provide on-site screenings, fluoride treatments, and X-rays as needed. She will coordinate tele-dental visits as appropriate with the pediatric dentist to conduct full exams, make diagnoses, and provide direction for treatment.