Improving Oral Health through School-Based Prevention in Dutchess County
FCH made a grant to Sun River Health to operate its school-based oral health program, which serves students in grades K-8 in the Dover Union Free School District.
School-based oral health programs work: dental sealants are a proven form of prevention for tooth decay and school-based sealant programs have been found to be the most cost-effective way to reach children that are at the greatest risk of cavities. Tooth decay is one of the most common chronic conditions of children in the United States. Approximately 1 in 5 (20%) children aged 5 to 11 years have at least one untreated decayed tooth. School-based sealant programs have been found to be the most cost-effective way to reach children that are at the greatest risk of cavities. Sun River Health has become an indispensable resource in our rural community, providing essential services that would otherwise be unavailable to many of our region’s children.