Prowers County Public Health & Environment Receives Grant for Kid’s Oral Health

[Lamar, CO] – Prowers County Public Health & Environment announced today that it has received a Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation grant to support its “Little Smiles” project.

“The goal of the “Little Smiles” project is to increase awareness of better oral health for the children in Prowers County by implementing oral health screenings, providing fluoride varnishes for children starting at age six months and assisting families with establishing dental homes,” said Tammie Clark RN BSN, Director.

The project will focus on serving the children of Prowers County beginning at six months of age during WIC appointments, Immunization Clinics, and other public health encounters. Prowers County Public Health & Environment will promote and educate parents on the importance of beginning oral screenings with the eruption of their baby’s first tooth and with follow-up screenings every six months. Assisting parents with a dental home and with travel arrangements for out of town specialty dental appointments will also be provided through the “Little Smiles” project.

Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation (DDCOF) awarded $100,000 in funding to support projects working to improve children’s oral health in local communities. Mini-grant awards range from $1,000 – $15,000 per grant. Individuals or organizations awarded proved a commitment to implement a project that targets one of DDCOF’s three drivers of success: increase the public’s awareness of and support for oral health; improve access to evidence-based dental care; and secure decision makers’ buy-in to the importance of oral health.

This is part of DDCOF’s larger efforts to spur dental health innovation throughout Colorado. Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease in the U.S. Nearly half of Colorado’s 1.2 million children will have cavities by the time they reach kindergarten. The consequences of untreated cavities include more missed school days, behavioral problems and lower grade point averages. DDCOF works to eradicate childhood tooth decay – a nearly 100 percent preventable disease – by supporting projects that increase access to dental care and address the causes of tooth decay.

For more information about the “Little Smiles” project at Prowers County Public Health & Environment, please call (719) 336-8721 or visit www.prowerscounty.net/departments/public_health_and_environment/index.php