Rockingham County Division of Public Health To Expand Dental Services In Local Schools

By ADMIN-RAS | Published November 29, 2022 | No Comments

Rockingham County Government News Release • November 29, 2022 • R. Pegram, PIO

(Wentworth, NC) – The Rockingham County Division of Public Health (RCDPH) recently received a $400,000 community grant from The Duke Endowment to provide dental services to uninsured and low-income children in the Rockingham County Public School system.

The grant enables RCDPH to launch school-based programs that prioritize preventive services (such as regular cleanings & sealants) and address certain restorative treatments (including fillings) for school-aged children. This grant follows an initial $65,000, six-month planning grant previously awarded to RCDPH.

RCDPH will provide school-based dental services utilizing a new mobile dental trailer that was recently purchased. The new mobile dental trailer – a 38-foot-long, two-chair clinic outfitted with digital radiography, a sterilization center, wheelchair ramp and electronic health record system – will meet the oral health care needs of Rockingham County’s school children. Anticipated to begin operation in early 2023, the mobile dental clinic is expected to expand the school’s outreach by more than 1,000 patients annually.

“Dental disease is 100% preventable when consistent measures are taken to ensure that children have access to oral health care,” said Trey Wright, Rockingham County Public Health Director. “We know that programs based in schools are effective, but have not been widely replicated in our region. Bringing this program to Rockingham County will provide students with needed dental care in safe, convenient, and accessible locations.”

More than 4.1 million Carolinians, including many children, live in a designated dental professional shortage area. School-based programs provide care to children who might not otherwise have access to oral health professionals. These programs eliminate other barriers, such as transportation issues and time away from school and work for appointments. Dental problems and pain impact performance at school and contribute to absenteeism. Research finds that dental pain has a similar, if not greater, impact on children’s quality of life than acute asthma.

“School-based programs are designed to remove barriers by meeting children where they spend much of their days and to help ensure they are healthy, pain-free, and ready to learn,” said Stacy Warren, program officer at The Duke Endowment. “We are proud to support the Rockingham County Division of Public Health in expanding dental care for children living in rural and underserved areas with few or no treatment options.”

The grants are part of a multi-year initiative to address oral health in the state, with an early focus on school-aged children.

To learn more about the School-based Oral Health Expansion Program, please visit:

https://dukeendowment.org/our-work/supporting-oral-health

http://www.bcbsncfoundation.org/strategy/health-care/oral-health-strategy/

https://www.bcbsscfoundation.org/health-focused-grants

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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation is an independent, private foundation with the mission of improving the health and well-being of North Carolinians. Since its founding in 2000, $135 million has been invested into North Carolina communities through more than 1,000 grants. In its grantmaking, the organization strives to address the key drivers of health, and takes a flexible approach designed to meet identified needs in partnership with the community. The Foundation also works closely with our grantees, and other nonprofits, to support their growth through capacity building, training, and leadership development opportunities. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information, go to www.bcbsncfoundation.org.

The Duke Endowment

Based in Charlotte and established in 1924 by industrialist and philanthropist James B. Duke, The Duke Endowment is a private foundation that strengthens communities in North Carolina and South Carolina by nurturing children, promoting health, educating minds and enriching spirits. Since its founding, it has distributed more than $4 billion in grants. The Endowment shares a name with Duke University and Duke Energy, but all are separate organizations.

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