• By Deborah Massenburg, BSDH, RDH
• Posted Friday, March 2, 2012

2012 Dental Sealant Promotion Project

“Little white choppers” were nothing but smiles on February 24th at the Forsyth Tech College Dental Education Clinic during the 2012 Dental Sealant Promotion Project. This project is a collaborative effort with our very own Forsyth County Department of Public Health School Age Dental Health Program and the FTCC Dental Hygiene and Assisting Program. Student dental hygienists and assistants, along with their instructors, provided 28 exams, 58 x-rays, 104 dental sealants, and 24 fluoride treatments to children who do not have private or public dental insurance.

Our public health dental hygienists, Deborah Massenburg, BSDH, RDH and Lynn Kelly, RDH, work together to indentify children in our public schools that need sealants, and whose families do not have the financial resources to obtain them on their own. This dental sealant project not only serves as a much needed resource for approximately 28 children who received more than $9,342.00 of free dental services, it creates a great opportunity to increase awareness among our community about the importance of preventing tooth decay.

Untreated, tooth decay remains the number one chronic disease among children 5 – 17 years of age. However, dental caries can easily be prevented by making a few life styles changes that include incorporating daily brushing and flossing habits after meals and before bedtime, a healthy diet which includes limiting sugar, as well as, routine dental visits and the utilization of fluoride and dental sealants.

Thanks to the 2012 Dental Sealant Promotion Project, these 28 children are well on their way to living decay free forever. For more information about dental sealants, talk to your family dentist or contact our office at (336) 703-3204.