Tooth Talk: Do you have a dental home? Siletz Dental Clinic can help
By Mary Ellen Volansky, EPDH, MS
Home is where the heart is, right?
What could this have to do with dental,
you’re thinking? Lots. The push is on
nationally for everyone to have a dental
home by age 1.
Why? So everyone has a safe, relaxed
place to grow strong healthy teeth and
smiles. And over time, home is where our
hearts are fond of returning to regularly,
say every six months.
The American Academy of Pediatric
Dentistry defines a dental home as “the
ongoing relationship between the dentist
and the patient, inclusive of all aspects of
oral health care delivered in a comprehen-
sive, continuously accessible, coordinated
and family centered way.”
It goes on to add, “Establishment of
a dental home begins no later than 12
months of age and includes referral to
dental specialists when appropriate.”
Most of us have a medical home, where
we go regularly for checkups and medical
care, where the care provider knows us
and helps us to grow strong and healthy.
For those of us in Siletz, our medical
home would be the Siletz Community
Health Clinic, whether we see one of the
physicians or care providers or all of them
over time. We know we will receive good
thorough care provided with respect.
Head Start has a Head Start Dental
Home Initiative Program and the following
states why: Tooth decay is the #1 chronic
infectious disease among U.S. children.
Even babies can have it. And it’s totally
preventable. Left undetected and untreated,
the disease – called early childhood caries
or ECC – makes it harder for children to
speak, eat healthy foods and stay on task.
Good oral health is vital to school readiness.
The first sentence is from the Report
of the Surgeon General, National Institute
of Dental and Craniofacial Research,
U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, 2000.
Head Start and dentistry in general
want all children to be without pain, to
be able to learn to talk and to pay atten-
tion in class so they can learn and to feel
proud to smile.
Overall, many parents do not know
this about cavities. They don’t know that
cavities are preventable. They don’t know
that having cavities can weaken teeth to
the point a tooth can break off.
Also not known is that cavities make
it difficult for any person to talk or for a
child to learn how to pronounce words
properly. Many parents don’t know that
healthy teeth help their children to feel
good about themselves.
And parents don’t always know that
cavities cause tooth pain, mouth pain and
fever. These symptoms tend to prevent a
child (or an adult) from being able to sit
in class (or work) and learn (do) what the
teacher (boss) is teaching (requesting) in
class (or at work).
We at the Siletz Dental Clinic want
you and your children to have a dental
home by the time each person is 12
months old. We want each of you to have
a dental home where you know you will
be safe. Home is where you can relax and
grow strong. Home is anywhere you have
all these things, especially when it is a
home visited every six months.
SVS Sealant Clinic Update
We had two new volunteers that I did
not mention in my February article, Rusty
Butler and Kelley Ellis, who stepped in
at the last minute because of emergencies
that kept others away. Thank you for step-
ping in and filling a need; we at the Siletz
Dental Clinic appreciate you a bunch.
We had two new volunteers from
Siletz Valley School, Tracy Marshall and
Candice Smith. These two courageous
Courtesy photo
Jamie Helms and Britany Robertson, two of 173 students examined during the
Sealant Clinic, win Sonicare toothbrushes.
volunteers spent the three days of this
clinic either supervising children while
they waited or rode with them from school
and back. You presence and grace made a
difference we noticed.
Winners of the Sonicare toothbrushes
were Jamie Helms, Britany Robertson,
Julian Gove, Tasia Zilger and Chloie
Oliphant. Thanks for participating in this
year’s Sealant Clinic.
We saw 173 students over three days.
Seven hundred eighty-three sealants were
applied, 168 fluoride varnishes were
applied and all were screened.
Decay was found on 238 teeth, sup-
porting the need to having a dental home
and for visiting that dental home regularly.
What was surprising were the194
teeth that belonged to Tribal children.
Please help us achieve dental homes for
all children in our community. If you’re
a parent or guardian of a child, get them
to a dentist.
Parents can apply for the Oregon
Health Plan or at least learn if you qualify.
If you don’t, other programs are available.
Give me a call 541-444-9640 or 800-648-
0449, ext. 1640; or those at the Oregon
Health Plan can help.
For more information about the Siletz Tribe, please visit ctsi.nsn.us.
Siletz Valley students, families celebrate Dr. Seuss with week of activities
About 150 people enjoyed a night of
Dr. Seuss-related activities at Siletz Valley
School on Feb. 28, held in conjunction
with the school’s annual Title 1 program
family meeting.
This event came after a weeklong
Dr. Seuss-themed “spirit week.”
Families enjoyed dinner (thanks to
Subway and Pepsi for their donations),
then parents attended the meeting while
students participated in three different
Dr. Seuss-related activities.
Students made oobleck after reading
Dr. Seuss’ Bartholomew and the Oobleck,
watched The Lorax and ate popcorn, and
made several paper crafts relating to pho-
nics and emergent reading.
Michal Crouch, who works in the
school library, led the Scholastic book
fair, which was open for both students and
families to shop. Crouch’s daughters and
husband attended and he came dressed as
Curious George for the event.
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Siletz News
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Courtesy photo
Laurie Beutler and the Siletz Valley School second-grade class wear hats and bow ties to celebrate a Dr. Seuss-themed week.
April 2013