First Name:
Molly
Last Name:
Elliott
Major Department:
Exercise Science
Thesis Director:
Rebecca Battista
Date of Thesis:
May 2013
As dental care has changed over the past decade it has also become more highly utilized within the population. However, with use increasing, population expanding, and the number of available dentist’s decreasing, a large shortage and division in care has developed. In fact, large gaps have developed between urban and rural populations. In order to improve available dental care many services and programs are being implemented. One such program is the “Give Kids a Smile!” program. This program was developed by the American Dental Association (ADA) to serve dental care to children without access in the form of education, preventative, and/or restorative care. This program was implemented in Watauga County School District in the Spring of 2012. The program involved finding a dental sponsor and setting up 30-minute education classes in first grade classrooms. The classes consisted of a video, nutrition and dental related activities, and a discussion period. While formal evaluations were not administered following the program, the teachers and nurses were pleased with the program. The overall intent of the program was to improve oral health knowledge in children in rural areas. This is important because oral health shares many correlations with overall health. For example, those who take care of their teeth and focus on the preventative care also make healthier lifestyle choices. In addition, more serious problems have been seen in oral health and its relationship to heart disease and coronary events. Nonetheless, as healthcare continues to advance, it is important to have a comprehensive view oral health in relation to overall health.