Children's Dental Health Month: Oral Health Promotion Project at SCLARC

To help special needs children prevent tooth decay, the South Central Los Angeles Regional Center (SCLARC) in 2007 launched the Oral Health Promotion Project. A multi-tiered approach, the project has trained more than 800 parents and staff on how to care for children's teeth correctly from birth. It has also provided oral health screenings to more than 400 children which include a free application of fluoride varnish — a concentrated form of fluoride used to prevent decay and re-mineralize the tooth surface — and referrals to nearby dentists for follow-up care.

"I am very pleased with the important impact this project has made on the community," said Tina Pedersen, project coordinator for the Oral Health Promotion Project. "Children were seen in the dental screenings who hadn't seen a dentist before or who were uninsured and we've been able to connect them with resources. Making this difference has been the most rewarding part of the project."

The project began with a grant from First 5 LA and L.A. Care Health Plan, and has been sustained through a grant from the California Department of Developmental Services. "SCLARC has always been committed to ensuring the health and wellness of those we serve and oral health has been a much needed area of focus in our community," said Marilyn Kostry, chief of clinical services at SCLARC. ""We were glad for the opportunity to connect with First 5 LA, L.A. Care Health Plan and DDS for resources to make our oral health projects happen."

Trainings have been conducted at conferences and community meetings in both English and Spanish, employing contracted promatoras to adjust the training to be culturally sensitive for monolingual Spanish speakers. "At the parent trainings, I have learned that moms are unaware that by nursing a baby and not cleaning their mouth that newly erupted teeth are prone to tooth decay," said Virginia Santos, oral health educator with the project.

To make the training more accessible and to reach a wider audience, the project has also created a short training video. Available to all SCLARC staff, the video features two dentists associated with the project's screenings and provides important tips on caring for tiny teeth. The video has also been used to train Infant Development providers and Early Head Start providers. The project plans to have the video available on the SCLARC Web site by the end of 2009.

For more information on the Oral Health Promotion Project call Tina Pedersen at (213) 744-8808.

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