Smile Healthy - Improving Dental Access and Oral Health in Champaign County

Dental Fair reaches 136 kids and their parents

The Smile Healthy! Dental Fair drew 136 kids and parents to the Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club in February as part of WILL’s effort to provide greater access to affordable dental care in Champaign County.

Clifford the Big Red Dog gave a tooth brushing lesson and posed for pictures to the children’s delight. Many won electric toothbrushes while playing health food bingo and others, donned in rubber gloves and a mask, learned how to apply sealants to a model of plastic teeth.

In addition to the fun and games, 51 children received dental screenings, according to Claudia Lennhoff, executive director of Champaign County Health Care Consumers, and a project partner in the Smile Healthy! campaign.

Lisa Bell, a dental hygienist and coordinator of the Champaign County District Child Dental Access Program, gave dental screenings to the children.

“ Some children had decay in 18 of 20 teeth,” Bell said. “Others had gum tissue that was swollen, minor cavities, and moderate disease. A small percentage of children had few problems. Most had significant immediate dental problems.”

The dental fair specifically hoped to reach children who had not been to a dentist. According to surveys completed by the parents who attend the dental fair:

· 30% of children had not been to a dentist before
· 67% of children do not have a regular dentist
· 55% of parents do not have a regular dentist
· 57% of parents do not get regular check-ups.

According to Lennhoff, affordability and access issues are reasons why they didn’t see a dentist.

“What we face here in Champaign County is no different than what we face nationwide,” said Lisa Bell, coordinator of the Champaign County District Child Dental Access Program. “The difference is that in a lot of communities across the nation, they don’t have the people and the resources that we have. We are clearly a community that’s come together to create solutions.”

Click here to listen to an audio interview with Lisa Bell, coordinator of the Children's Dental Program at the Champaign Public Health District, and Claudia Lennhoff, executive director at Champaign County Health Care Consumers, about the dental health of children and parents who came to the fair.