Successes and Challenges for Oral Health in Schools
Jan 15, 2016
Successes and Challenges for Oral Health
in Schools
Why work with Schools?• Children and youth population
• Health and learning integrally linked
• Improving graduation rates cost effective ways to reduce health disparities
• When public health and education sectors work together academic achievement and health improves
Helpful Resource
• “How Schools Work & How to Work with Schools: A Primer for Professionals Who Serve Children & Youth”
• National Association of State Boards of Education
Need for Oral Health
• It is estimated that 51 million school hours a year are lost due to oral health issues.
• Discomfort and self consciousness caused by oral health disease interferes with students’ ability to learn.
• Oral health concerns are the most common chronic disease in school aged children.
• School nurses report students seek their help for a wide range of oral health issues– Dental caries– Tooth and oral pain– Problems with oral piercings– Orthodontic concerns
• Forty percent of school nurses report they encounter students who avoid smiling or laughing because of oral health problems.
School Nurses play a major rolein Oral Health
• School nurses coordinate oral health education for students, parents and school staff.
• They are a resource for teachers for oral health curricula
• School nurses conduct or facilitate oral health screenings and dental caries prevention programs
• They also assist families in locating and accessing treatment for oral health disease or dental injuries
School Nurse Survey
• 230 school nurses responded
• 60.9% did not provide oral health services
• 23.9% did provide oral health services
• 15.2% “other”
• Majority of the services provided were to elementary students
Who is providing the care?
• Dental Hygienists provided 75% of the care
• Dentists were involved in 25%
• Practitioners were from clinics, public health centers or other oral health programs
Identified Benefits
• Access to preventive care
• Identifying a dental home
• Educate child about oral disease prevention
• Early identification of dental problems
• Increased knowledge by parents about the importance of oral health
Challenges to providing oral health in schools
• Lack of community resources
• Sustainability
• Obtaining parental consent
• Time away from class
• Scheduling issues
• Space limitations
Why not?• Don’t have the resources to add oral
health services
• Don’t have the time
• Lack of support from administration
• Students already have access to care
• Other priorities
What would help?
• More community resources
• More parental support and better communications
• School support including additional staff time
• Better access to oral health providers in the community who will see students with dental needs
Finding Allies in the schools
• School Nurse
• Wellness team or coordinator
• Parents
• Principal
• PTA, PTSA
All it takes is a Champion!
Resources
• NASN and DentaQuest http://www.oralhealthconnections.org
• NASN Oral Health Forum [email protected]
Comprehensive Health & Physical Education
Standards and Prepared Graduate Competencies
Movement Competency & Understanding
Physical & Personal Wellness
Emotional & Social
Wellness
Prevention & Risk
Management
PE• Motor Skills &
Patterns• Movement
Concepts
• Regular Physical Activity
• Health-Enhancing Fitness Level
•Responsible & Respects Self and Others
Both• Safety; Injury
Prevention
CHE
• Healthy Eating• Healthy Relationships;
Sexual & Reproductive Health
• Health Promotion
•Mental, Emotional, & Social Well-being
• Healthy Decisions; ATOD Prevention
• Healthy Relationships;
Violence Prevention
Comprehensive Health Education Standards
Standard: 2. Physical and Personal Wellness in Health - Kindergarten
Concepts and skills students master:
• d. Explain positive outcomes from
• brushing and flossing teeth daily
• e. Demonstrate steps for proper brushing
• and flossing of teeth
Kathleen Patrick RN, MA, NCSN, FNASN
Colorado Department of Education
303-866-6779