Tri-City Health Center to launch Bright Smiles

Aug. 19, 2011 - PRLog -- Tri-City Health Center (TCHC) has recently been awarded grant funding by First 5 Alameda County Community Grants Initiative to launch a new dental program, “Bright Smiles,” targeting low-income children and their families who are most likely to experience dental disparities in Fremont, Newark, and Union City. As a part of this new program, TCHC will partner with Kidango Child Development Centers and the state pre-school program at the Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) to provide dental health education and preventive services to over 1000 children ages 0-5 years and their families.

TCHC’s Bright Smiles aims to reduce the burden of dental disease through efficient integration of health promotion, preventive services, and access to disease management and treatment services. The program promotes sustainable behavior change through regular interaction with children during their class time and by educating their parents/caregivers whose behaviors children closely emulate. It emphasizes prevention, early identification, and treatment of dental disease in children before they enter kindergarten.

Through the program, children will learn how to properly care for their teeth and will participate in a non-invasive dental screening by a licensed dentist/dental hygienist. During screening, the dental professional will assess the child’s oral health and help him/her overcome any fears that may have previously prevented them from having a pleasant experience at a dental appointment. Additionally, children at high-risk of developing caries will be provided with a spot-fluoride varnish treatment. The program will also offer workshops for parents/caregivers that can help them understand the need to maintain good oral health for themselves and their children, as well as the best ways to prevent dental cavities. Additionally, TCHC will provide access to dental services through referral/enrollment into Medi-Cal/dental insurance and follow-up care through their dental office.

“Our Bright Smiles program addresses the gap in knowledge of good oral health practices by focusing not just on children, but also on their families who have a great influence on the health behaviors of their children.  The support of First 5 Alameda County, Kidango and FUSD will certainly help us deliver brighter smiles to the TCHC community,” said Juliana Schirmer, TCHC Development Director.

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TCHC is a nonprofit, federally qualified health center that serves low-income, uninsured and homeless residents in Alameda County, California and offers high-quality primary medical, dental and behavioral health care services for the entire family.