Transcript Successes and Challenges for Oral Health

Successes and Challenges
for Oral Health
in Schools
Why work with Schools?
• Children and youth population
• Health and learning integrally linked
• Improving graduation rates cost effective
ways to reduce health disparities
• When public health and education sectors
work together academic achievement and
health improves
Helpful Resource
• “How Schools Work & How to Work with
Schools: A Primer for Professionals Who
Serve Children & Youth”
• National Association of State Boards of
Education
Need for Oral Health
• It is estimated that 51 million school hours
a year are lost due to oral health issues.
• Discomfort and self consciousness caused
by oral health disease interferes with
students’ ability to learn.
• Oral health concerns are the most
common chronic disease in school aged
children.
• School nurses report students seek their
help for a wide range of oral health issues
– Dental caries
– Tooth and oral pain
– Problems with oral piercings
– Orthodontic concerns
• Forty percent of school nurses report they
encounter students who avoid smiling or
laughing because of oral health problems.
School Nurses play a major role
in Oral Health
• School nurses coordinate oral health
education for students, parents and
school staff.
• They are a resource for teachers for
oral health curricula
• School nurses conduct or facilitate oral
health screenings and dental caries
prevention programs
• They also assist families in locating and
accessing treatment for oral health
disease or dental injuries
School Nurse Survey
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230 school nurses responded
60.9% did not provide oral health services
23.9% did provide oral health services
15.2% “other”
Majority of the services provided were to
elementary students
Who is providing the care?
• Dental Hygienists provided 75% of the
care
• Dentists were involved in 25%
• Practitioners were from clinics, public
health centers or other oral health
programs
Identified Benefits
• Access to preventive care
• Identifying a dental home
• Educate child about oral disease
prevention
• Early identification of dental problems
• Increased knowledge by parents about the
importance of oral health
Challenges to providing
oral health in schools
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Lack of community resources
Sustainability
Obtaining parental consent
Time away from class
Scheduling issues
Space limitations
Why not?
• Don’t have the resources to add oral
health services
• Don’t have the time
• Lack of support from administration
• Students already have access to care
• Other priorities
What would help?
• More community resources
• More parental support and better
communications
• School support including additional staff
time
• Better access to oral health providers in
the community who will see students with
dental needs
Finding Allies in the schools
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School Nurse
Wellness team or coordinator
Parents
Principal
PTA, PTSA
All it takes is a Champion!
Resources
• NASN and DentaQuest
http://www.oralhealthconnections.org
• NASN Oral Health Forum
[email protected]
Comprehensive Health & Physical Education
Standards and Prepared Graduate Competencies
Movement
Competency &
Understanding
Physical &
Personal
Wellness
• Motor Skills & • Regular Physical
PE
Patterns
Activity
• Movement
• Health-Enhancing
Concepts
Fitness Level
Emotional &
Social
Wellness
•Responsible
& Respects
Self and
Others
• Safety; Injury
Prevention
Both
CHE
Prevention &
Risk
Management
• Healthy Eating
•Mental,
• Healthy
Emotional,
Relationships; Sexual & Social
& Reproductive
Well-being
Health
• Health Promotion
• Healthy Decisions;
ATOD Prevention
• Healthy
Relationships;
Violence Prevention
Comprehensive Health
Education Standards
Standard: 2. Physical and Personal
Wellness in Health - Kindergarten
Concepts and skills students master:
• d. Explain positive outcomes from
• brushing and flossing teeth daily
• e. Demonstrate steps for proper brushing
• and flossing of teeth
Kathleen Patrick RN, MA, NCSN, FNASN
Colorado Department of Education
[email protected]
303-866-6779