By Tonia Noe-Rose - Staff Writer
Climb aboard and show those pearly whites. That’s what may happen for local children providing the Rowan County Board of Education decides to take part in a mobile dental program that already serves 10,000 children in region nine of the state.
Kevin Buchanan, Knox County family resource center coordinator, attended Tuesday’s school board meeting and spoke about the $150,000 semi truck that consists of three dental chairs, an x-ray machine and all the equipment needed to provide professional dental care.
“I got together with a dentist in our area and we saw the need for dental care in Kentucky,” Buchanan told the board. “Dr. Smith took $150,000 of his own money and put into this truck. We have 21 districts in region seven that are interested in also taking part in the program and we hope that Rowan County will want to be included.”
Buchanan said the program accepts Medicaid and other dental insurance and can accommodate up to 150 children each day. “There is no charge to parents or the school board for this program,” he said.
In addition, Buchanan said children without Medicaid or insurance also would be screened. “We must have at least 100 participates at a school in to be able go there,” he said. “We try to get at least 75 with Medicaid in order to fund our program.”
Once screened and given a treatment plan, parents are urged to find a local dentist and continue with the child’s dental care.
“We help parents with the plan and then send them onto a family dentist such as Dr. Carroll Loy here in Morehead,” Buchanan commented. “You would be surprised at the children we see that have never been to the dentist. Many of them have suffered problems such as abscess teeth and simply suffered while sitting in classrooms.”
Mary Caric, Rowan County school health coordinator and registered nurse, told the board she believes the program would be beneficial to children who may have never visited a dentist office.
“We have concerns with chewing tobacco and citric acid in sodas and I just think this would be a great program for our children,” Caric said. “In 1994, when sixth grade physicals were required, we discovered so many kids who have never seen a dentist. Hopefully, by 2012 it will be state-mandated that children have a dental screening before starting school.”
Buchanan said the program is presently running on a “shoestring” as it takes 25 gallons of diesel each day to run the truck. “Dana Quisenberry is looking at some grants to help us with costs,” he said. “We do hope to get some additional funding for this because we think it very important to the children.”
Superintendent Marvin Moore said he would like to consider the program. “I think it would be a win-win situation for our kids because good oral hygiene is essential to good health, Moore said.
The board agreed to study the program and then make decision as to whether Rowan County will participate.
