Rockingham County Department of Health and Human Services News Release • October 30, 2023 • R. Hawthorne
Community Celebrates New Dental Service for Rockingham County Schoolchildren
(Rockingham County, NC) – The Rockingham County Division of Public Health (RCDPH) unveiled its new Mobile Dental Unit (MDU) at Moss Street Elementary School on October 30, 2023. Approximately 50 public health workers, civil servants, and community members gathered to celebrate the ribbon cutting and tour the MDU. The event included remarks from local officials and RCDPH staff members, as well as refreshments and photo opportunities with the MDU’s mascot, a giant tooth named Dr. Gleam.
The MDU is a 38-foot trailer that houses a two-chair clinic outfitted with digital radiography, a sterilization center, and electronic health record system, all designed to meet the oral health care needs of Rockingham County’s schoolchildren. Children enrolled in Rockingham County Schools who meet income requirements and who do not have already have a dentist can qualify to receive dental care in the MDU, with consent from a parent or guardian, when the unit visits their school.
“When children are experiencing dental pain, they cannot concentrate, and they cannot learn,” said Dr. Shruti Shastri, the RCDPH’s Dental Director. “By providing this service, we are investing in the health and wealth of future generations.”
More than 4.1 million North Carolinians, including many children, live in designated dental professional shortage areas. 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 compared to acute asthma.
The MDU project received funding from the School-Based Oral Health Expansion Initiative through The Duke Endowment and BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina Foundation. To learn more about this initiative, visit https://www.dukeendowment.org/project-details/supporting-oral-health-in-schools and https://www.bcbsncfoundation.org/our-work/oral-health/school-based-oral-health-spotlight/.
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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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