Students’ Dental Needs Addressed

By Laura Bond (laura@rustonleader.com)

An initiative known as Health Enterprise to Assist Lincoln’s Students could mean more smiles, as well as less absenteeism and better grades, among local students who suffer from dental issues.

The Lincoln Parish School System administered project, which has received $84,000 in funding through the Lincoln Health Foundation, is designed to meet basic safety needs of indigent students in Lincoln Parish, including identifying and remedying problems with their teeth.

Last year, a local school nurse, alongside a hygienist, discovered 30 of 68 third graders at on area school were in need of dental care.

HEALS Coordinator and school nurse Sonja Cardwell said cavities and abscesses among students might not be caught until they have become more severe, and students may then be grinding their teeth waiting for dental care.

“Dental care is very expensive. Even for those who have a Medicaid card, very few dentists in the area accept it, and it’s hard to get an appointment because they are overbooked,” Cardwell said. “We have children coming in and complaining about toothaches, and they may have to wait for days just to see anybody. The severe pain makes it hard for them to stay at school.”

A large chunk of the recently allotted money targets this pain-in-the-mouth issue. Approximately $16,000 has been set aside to provide every parish third grader −including those at A.E. Phillips, Bethel Christian and Cedar Creek schools− with free dental screenings to prevent and identify dental Problems. Another $20,520 will pay fro dentist visits for indigent children, and $5,000 will provide both transportation to the dentist appointments and home visits to inform parents of the voucher program.

Cardwell said some students who are able to schedule dental appointments might miss them because their parents do not own a vehicle and an alternative ride falls though. Hence, the need for transportation is key.

Cypress Springs Elementary Principal Doris Lewis said she has had 10-12 students complaining about dental issues this year alone.

“Some of them come to school hurting, and they may be in pain and crying as they try to get in touch with someone to come get them,” Lewis said. “We may give them some ice, but we’re not allowed to give them anything for pain, including ibuprofen. Sometimes the parent can’t come get them, and they stay all day and ride the bus home.”