Building a School-based Oral Health Program
Schools can establish partnerships to bring vital preventive oral health care where students live, learn, and play.
Schools can establish partnerships to bring vital preventive oral health care where students live, learn, and play. Establishing a school-based oral health program can increase access to students and families who face barriers to accessing dental care. SBOHPs can provide services to help prevent and/or reduce tooth decay, increase students’ overall oral and whole body health, identify dental problems and provide referrals to treatment to decrease missed school hours. Oral health champions who initiate SBOHPs can be schools, community dental clinicians, school-based health centers, or other community organizations.
Get Started! What are the oral health needs in my community?
The purpose of a Needs & Assets Assessment is to develop a well-defined scope of understanding of the current state of school-based oral health services, identify which oral health services are needed, and how these services may best be implemented. Each school-based oral health program is unique to the school setting and student needs. The Feasibility Calculator is key to assessing the possibility of implementing a school-based oral health program.
Now that you have an understanding of the need for an SBOHP in your community.
