Orchard Gardens Students Get Smart about Oral Health

Children in kindergarten through eighth grade at Orchard Gardens K-8 School in Boston took a break from their studies February 15 to take care of their teeth. Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine (BUGSDM) offered free screenings and sealants to students through Smart Smiles, a school-based program that provides oral health services to children in Boston Public Schools at no cost to parents or caregivers.

Orchard Gardens is one of 20 pilot schools where BUGSDM this year offers a new, comprehensive version of Smart Smiles. Since the program started, Smart Smiles has offered dental education, screenings, and sealants. The pilot school version also offers full exams, X-rays, cleanings, recall visits, and restorative care. These new services are available through a partnership among BUGSDM, Tufts School of Dental Medicine, and Commonwealth Mobile Oral Health Services (CMOHS).

Smart Smiles helps BUGSDM fight the rampant dental decay revealed in the recent study, "Healthy Kids Ready to Learn: Toward Better Oral Health for Massachusetts School Children." Assistant Dean for Community Partnerships and Extramural Affairs Dr. Michelle Henshaw reminds people the poor oral health status of children is a statewide concern, not a problem limited to just a few communities.

"Tooth decay is the most chronic childhood disease, yet we have the knowledge and tools to prevent it," said Dr. Henshaw. "Now every community in Massachusetts needs to take action."

At the Orchard Gardens Smart Smiles event, children colored dental-themed pictures and practiced brushing the teeth of Doogie the dog, a puppet with large, human-like teeth and an oversized toothbrush. Other children played "dentist" by pretending to screen each other’s teeth.

After treatment, BUGSDM gave students goody bags filled with stickers, a toothbrush, toothpaste, a pamphlet on oral health, and a report card showing the results of the screenings.