NASHUA, NH – Dental hygienist Myra Nikitas from Sealing Smiles Across New Hampshire – a cavity prevention pilot program – visited the Board of Education on Monday night to appeal for help in making sure the program continues into the future.
Nikitas told the board she is seeking financial support to keep this program afloat, whether through finding out about grants she can apply to, getting in contact with a city grants writer, or other efforts.
“I’m not sure how the future holds for the funding for this project,” Nikitas said. “It’s my dream and it’s my hope that this will be something that will be sustainable and integrated into the curriculum for Nashua students.”
The program, launched in November, visits elementary and middle schools to offer free dental services, including oral health screenings, application of fluoride varnishes for stronger teeth and dental sealants – a thin coating applied to the chewing surfaces of back teeth – to prevent cavities.
The initiative is sponsored by the NH Department of Health and Human Services, Oral Health Program and in collaboration with Solvere Health.
After screening, each child is sent home with a progress report explaining what was done. Children will be given referrals if additional care is needed.
During a presentation about the program Nikitas told the board that since the program started, more than 570 students have been screened, more than 3,700 dental sealants have been placed, more than 570 fluoride applications have been done, and more than 220 students have been referred to a dental provider.
The program also works with families to find out what barriers to dental healthcare they face and helps to mitigate those challenges. The Oral Health Program can help pay for an Uber to get families to a dentist, and grants are available to help pay for the cost of care.
The initiative came to Nashua after an assessment done by NH Oral Health Program screened third-grade students to assess the oral health status of children throughout the state and determined that Nashua had the highest prevalence of untreated dental decay.
“With the help of the CDC and the Oral Health Program, the funds were given to the Nashua community to help mitigate the decay problem that we have,” Nikitas said.
The program is currently funded in Nashua through June 30, 2024.
