Local School Initiative Puts Dental Hygienist in Classroom, Helping Students Achieve Healthier Smiles
Imagine walking into your child’s classroom and seeing a dental hygienist ready to help kids maintain healthy smiles. This innovative approach is exactly what the Tolosa Children’s Dental Center is bringing to Shandon Elementary School, nestled within the Shandon Joint Unified School District. The initiative, aptly named “Dentistry at School,” is revolutionizing access to dental care for students, especially those hailing from low-income families.
With the daily hustle and bustle of life, parents often find it challenging to carve out time to take their children to dental appointments. This new program aims to ease that strain, allowing families to maximize their time while ensuring their children prioritize dental health. By bringing dental hygiene directly into the classroom, Tolosa Children’s Dental Center is addressing a significant gap in pediatric dental care, especially post-pandemic.
Every Friday, dental hygienist Alice Peltier dedicates her time to approximately five students, which adds up to around 150 children receiving care each academic year. “It’s fun to be back with them,” Peltier expressed, capturing the joy that comes with engaging with students in a familiar environment.
The Need for Access to Dental Care
The need for accessible dental services became increasingly apparent when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, leading to the suspension of many school programs, including Dentistry at School. Recognizing that many families either could not access dental care or did not prioritize it, Executive Director Alexandra Chamberlain started this initiative back in 2019. “We’re able to provide a service here for families that may not otherwise access care,” she explained.
The program’s return this month was nothing short of a celebration, as parents can now avoid the cumbersome task of taking time off work or making the long trek—up to 40 miles—to dental offices in nearby Paso Robles. Chamberlain noted that when they had to stop services, they witnessed a significant decline in dental care for Shandon students.
Dentistry at School: Caring for Student Smiles
The program is comprehensive; students receive various dental services right in their classrooms. This includes X-rays, cleanings, and visual examinations—everything you’d typically expect from a standard dental visit. Should additional work be required, reports and X-rays are forwarded to the dental office in Paso Robles for further treatment, ensuring that no child slips through the cracks when it comes to necessary care.
Peltier observed some concerning trends regarding children’s dental health during the pandemic. “It was rough. The kids were doing good, and then when the pandemic hit, it felt like their care maybe wasn’t quite there,” she recounted. However, the program has helped close that gap and improve the overall oral health of the children.
The excitement among the kids is palpable. “Kids are really excited,” Peltier shared. “They’re happy to see somebody out here. They’re always showing us their teeth. They’ve got wonderful excitement.” This enthusiastic response speaks volumes, highlighting how positively children are embracing this newfound access to dental health services.
Making a Broader Impact
Really, the impact of the Tolosa Children’s Dental Center extends far beyond just Shandon Elementary. With approximately 5,000 patients seen annually at their offices, the center’s mission is to bolster pediatric dental health for an even larger demographic. By adding more dental hygienists, they are in a position to expand services and reach more students throughout the region.
As the program continues to flourish, it holds the promise of fostering healthier smiles for countless local children and cultivating lifelong habits of oral care—a necessity that should never feel out of reach. With Dentistry at School’s welcoming approach, parents and kids alike can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that good dental health care is just a school day away.
For those keen on following developments in local health initiatives or seeking dental care resources for their own children, it’s essential to keep an eye on programs like this. As initiatives like Dentistry at School grow and evolve, they will undoubtedly play a crucial role in enhancing the well-being of our communities, one smile at a time.
