Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation, the philanthropic affiliate of Delta Dental of Oklahoma (DDOK) and the state’s largest contributor to dental health and education-related initiatives, recently partnered with Variety Care Health Center to conduct its portable Cavity Prevention Clinic at two Guthrie elementary schools.
On Oct. 26, 48 second graders at Guthrie Central Elementary School received oral health education and brush kits, and 14 students received dental assessments, fluoride varnish, and/or sealants at the Cavity Prevention Clinic. On Nov. 2, 60 second graders at Guthrie Cotteral Elementary School received education and brush kits, and 18 students were served at the clinic. These services were provided completely free of cost.
The DDOK Foundation’s Cavity Prevention Clinic is a community outreach initiative that provides fluoride treatment and sealants to Oklahoma students who otherwise might not be able to receive these critical dental services. The free, preventive care provided at these at-school clinics helps eliminate the barriers to accessing vital oral health care that many students across the state face.
“In addition to providing at-school preventive care to students who need it, we are also committed to connecting children to a local dentist for follow-up and ongoing care,” said Terrisa Singleton, director of the Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation. “For those children who already have a dental home, our program helps remind parents of the importance of regular dental check-ups so their child will receive sealants at the appropriate time.”
Cavities are one of the greatest unmet health treatment needs in our country today. One of the most effective ways to prevent cavities is to apply dental sealants to the chewing surface of the molars, where 9 out of 10 cavities occur. Research shows that school-aged children without sealants have almost three times more cavities than those with sealants, and that sealants decrease the chance of cavities by 80 percent. To maximize effectiveness, dental sealants must be placed as soon as possible after permanent molars erupt, which occurs around the second and sixth grades.
“Delta Dental’s Cavity Prevention Clinic is very beneficial for our students,” said Leslie Cotton, principal of Cotteral Elementary School. “It allows parents to become informed and provides them the opportunity to get the dental care done for their students, as they may not have the means to provide this service for them.”
The DDOK Foundation’s Cavity Prevention Clinic serves Oklahoma public schools where at least 70 percent of the children enrolled participate in the Federal Free and Reduced Meal program. These vital dental services are offered to all second-grade students across the state, regardless of income or insurance status and at no charge to the school or families. Each student is provided with a dental assessment and also receives a brush kit to further assist them on their dental health journey.
The Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation is Oklahoma’s largest contributor to dental health and education-related initiatives that support children’s oral health. In addition to initiatives like Cavity Prevention Clinics, the Foundation also provides free dental education programs, such as Captain Supertooth and MouthScience, to schools across the state aimed at improving oral hygiene among Oklahoma children. Furthermore, the DDOK Foundation is a major funder of philanthropic dental initiatives such as the Oklahoma Mission of Mercy and provides critical support to the OU College of Dentistry through clinic funding, scholarships and student research stipends.
Learn more about how the Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation advances the oral health care of Oklahomans by visiting ddokfoundation.org.
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