Access to Care Facts
Do you believe that oral health care is an essential factor affecting total health care? Undoubtedly, the answer is a resounding YES! Then consider the following Access to Care Facts:
- 40% of Americans are not receiving the oral health care they need
- 53 percent of 6-8 year olds and 84 percent of 17 year olds suffer from the most common chronic infectious disease - dental caries
- children missed nearly 52 million hours of school this year due to dental treatment problems
- Workers lost more than 164 million work hours due to lack of treatment for dental disease.
- Those in need of oral health care live right here in your community, Pinellas County
The Back To School Care Fair was held August 9, 2008. We had a very successful event
this year and screened 178 children. PCDHA had sixteen members volunteer and 7 SPC
Dental Hygiene students volunteer. Our SPC students contributed many hours before the
event preparing decorated goodie bags as well as attending the Group Meeting,
planning table presentations, and getting donations for the goodie bags. Some
students were able to attend the event while others helped out before the event. Bri
Wilson took on the task of wearing a tooth costume. She was a great ambassador for
our screening event, walking around outside, suggesting everyone come to get their
dental health screening. It was very hot outside and she was a real
trooper. Overall the students really showed great community spirit and were
a tremendous help at the event. A big "Shout Out" to each one of the students
for volunteering their time! Wahoo!!!
The event had a bit of a slow start due to a glitch in registration (not our
responsibility) and we hope to make some suggestions that will increase the
number of children we screen. Overall the day went by very quickly and we
finished by 1:45pm. A huge Thank You to all of our members that
took part in 2008 Back To School Care Fair. I appreciate all of the members
and students for spending their day sharing their commitment to oral health with
the local community. My committee members Debi Sibley and Floyd Butz were so
supportive and I thank them for all of them hard work which led us to such a
outstanding day. Our supplies are running low on Latex Free/Nitrile gloves,
sizes M and L. So throughout the year we would like to collect donations. If
anyone would like to bring donations to our meetings or contact this committee
for pickup we would certainly appreciate the help. Looking forward to next year.
Respectively Submitted, Debi Clayton RDH,BS
Johnnie Ruth Clark, SPC Health Center, PTEC, SP Department of Health,
Pinellas Park Department of Health, Upper Pinellas Dental Association
Give Kids a Smile is a National event where kids in need can be screened for
dental care, and then come back to have it completed. Thanks to every hygienist who volunteered
for GKAS. PCDHA appreciates every minute of your time. Some hygienists worked all day and also worked as
assistants on treatment days. PCHDA President Holly Moons has proven once again her resilience and passion
to encourage and schedule area hygienists to give their time. Area hygienists with PCDHA showed they are
important dental professionals that support ADA access to our community.
Thanks Pinellas!
Jackie Foulk, RDH