The Gator Grins dental outreach program operated by the dental department of Hilltown Community Health Centers in Huntington has started a mobile pilot program at the New Hingham Elementary School in Chesterfield,
The goal is to bring quality in-school dental care to children in the Chesterfield/Goshen School District.
The mobile dental program has been serving students in the Gateway Regional School District since 2008 and now has about 400 students enrolled in the program. That is half of the school district’s students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
On May 16, the mobile unit set up in the library of the New Hingham Elementary School and began to see its first patients. By lunchtime, the dental team consisting of Dr. Emily Bowden, hygienist Liz Spooner, and dental assistant Karen Rowe, had seen seven students. Also present were coordinator Kristen Brakey and program manager Kiirsten Cooper.
When enrolled in the program, students see this team at the school during the school year, and they can schedule appointments with same team at the Huntington Health Center in the summer.
This program was designed to provide continuity of care as well as increased access to dental services.
For families who live in the Hilltowns, getting children to dental appointments can be challenging because services are generally quite a distance away, causing parents and guardians to take considerable time off from work and having children lose valuable class time.
Bowden said securing good dental care for young children is extremely important. Primary teeth can get cavities and tooth decay just like adult teeth, and if untreated can develop into serious dental infections. This can be especially harmful to children because their immune systems are not fully developed.
“We still get some parents that think that baby teeth are not important because they are going to fall out anyway, but it is the baby teeth that are the place-holders for the adult teeth and keeping them healthy is important,” Bowden said.
Having the mobile dental unit at the school will help to ensure that New Hingham students have easy access to comprehensive dental care.
The program provides dental exams, X-rays, routine cleanings, fluoride varnishes, sealants, amalgam and composite fillings right at the school.
Spooner said that seeing a familiar dentist in the safety of their school surrounded by teachers and classmates, takes away a lot of the fear and anxiety for children that can be associated with going to a dental office.
“The can also just drop in and see us when we are here,” Spooner said. They can bring a friend with them and we talk with them about what we do.”
The mobile unit will visit the school for several days every six months. The program accepts most forms of dental insurance including MassHealth.
“Their set-up is pretty impressive,” New Hingham Principal Rosemary Larkin said. “I think this is a great idea and will be a huge benefit for the kids.”
The Williamsburg Public Safety Complex Committee will hold an open forum at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
In 2013, the committee was charged with identifying the building needs of the town’s fire and police departments, as well as determining the building’s preliminary size and design, identifying possible locations and available funding options.
Their findings were presented to the Select Board in December and the committee is now making this information available to residents and seeking comments.
The forum will be held in the auditorium of the Town Offices at 141 Main St. in Haydenville.
The Wisteria String Quartet, with David Perkins baritone, will perform at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Parish House of the West Cummington Church.
There will be selections by Haydn, Faure, Shostakovich and Barber.
Admission is free, though a donation is requested.
Ideas for the column on life in the Hilltowns can be sent to Fran Ryan at Fryan.gazette@gmail.com.