Preventive Dentistry

Programme - Oral Health in Schools

08/06/2009

Question:

How would I go about conducting a school oral health programme?

Answer:

First you need the approval of the school you intend to work with. Either contact the Principal of the school or the superintendent of the school district. Obviously if you have a contact person in the school who can act as your liaison that would be best.

Next conduct a needs assessment in order to choose a program needed by the children and not what you think is needed. Then a small pilot test will demonstrate the feasibility of the program. Funding will probably be needed and may be the most challenging. Don’t forget your local foundations with the same mission statement you have with your program.

Then have fun and execute your program. Remember you are the heart beat of your program and without your total commitment it won’t succeed. The next phase is sustainability. Finally, remember you’ll get as much satisfaction as the children you treat.

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Response by:

James Lalumandier, DDS, MPH
Associate Professor & Chair
Department of Community Dentistry
School of Dental Medicine
Case Western Reserve University