A school-based oral health program aims to reduce the cavity rate of Eastern Oregon children who receive their preventative dental services.

The Healthy, Happy Smiles program was launched in 2016 in Grant, Harney, Baker and Malheur counties.

Eastern Oregon Healthy Living Alliance worked in partnership with Advantage Dental to offer free dental screenings, fluoride application, sealants, oral health education and follow up and referrals with kids identified with urgent dental care needs.

There were 2,983 participating students in public schools in kindergarten through eighth grades in the four counties who received services, regardless of insurance status.

Grant County had the highest participation levels of the four counties.

Out of 271 students, there were 141 children from Prairie City School, Seneca Elementary School and Humbolt Elementary School receiving dental screenings through the program.

With parental consent, a total of 103 of those screened received fluoride applications, and 62 received sealant applications.

Seneca students also participated in a learning lab offered through the program.

EOHLA said Grant County had the highest success rate because the largest school (Humbolt) was previously served by the Oregon Health Authority dental sealant program and had the protocol in place for a strong return rate on parent consent forms.

Program coordinator Alanna Chamulak said she experienced some impactful moments during the program.

While visiting Baker County schools, she encountered one eighth-grade student who had never been to the dentist. Another student who said his family couldn’t afford a toothbrush was excited to hear he’d receive a free toothbrush.

EOHLA’s overarching goal for the program is to reduce the cavity rate of children in participating counties by 3 percent by 2019.

Funding for the project is provided in part by the Oregon Community Foundation and the Eastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization.

The program received a $70,000 grant through the Oregon Children’s Dental Health Initiative to provide the program in the 2017-18 school year.

Chamulak said they plan to provide incentives for students and teachers to return parent consent forms, and added they are preparing to be fully integrated into fall school registration. She said this should result in higher consent form return rates and in turn result in more students receiving services.