• By Todd Luck
• Posted Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Forsyth Preventive Dental Health program commemorates 50 years

The Preventive Dental Health program at Forsyth County Department of Public Health celebrated 50 years of serving local children during a program on April 24.

Dr. Jean Spratt, a retired Regional Dentist supervisor with the NC HHS Oral Health Section, was among the speakers that discussed the history of the program. She said that tooth decay and other oral health problems used to be so rampant, that dental disease was one of the most common reasons for rejection in military recruits during both world wars. In 1918, North Carolina established the first state dental public health program in the country, using traveling dentists to treat school children.

After countless extractions, they found clinical dentistry, which treats the problems of individual patients, wasn’t enough. So, in 1974, the State added a program that involved community-based prevention and education. Four public health dental hygienists traveled to six pilot counties providing fluoride, helping communities implement water fluoridation, educating teachers in schools and daycares, and teaching providers about the newly discovered threat of plaque and how to control it. And they also provided screenings to identify problems in children and refer them for care.

Forsyth was not among the pilot counties, so in 1974, the County created its own Preventive Dental Health program to serve local children. Dr. James Ziggler, serving as a Forsyth County Commissioner, and Dr. Harry Spillman, a Forsyth County Board of Health Member, led the initiative with their fellow Forsyth County Dental Society members to shift the focus to prevention and education. This has resulted in greatly improved outcomes in oral health.

“Clinical dentistry and community-based dental public health...attack the same problem of the burden of dental disease in our communities, but they do so in very different ways,” said Spratt. “You put them together, and they provide a more holistic approach to reducing dental disease prevalence."

State Rep. Amber Baker, a former principal who has served 28 years in education, said Preventive Dental Health has been vital in making sure kids have access to screenings and education regardless of their income.

“Dental hygiene education is necessary for all children regardless of what their home environment is.” said Baker, who added that it can help inspire students go into the dental profession."

Pediatric Dentist Dr. Tina Merhoff said that it was visits from the Preventive Dental Health that first sparked her interest in dentistry. She said she was proud to serve kids who are referred to her now by the program.

“You have no idea the impact you’re having on these little children,” she said. “When you take the time just to show them how to brush their teeth and teach them about nutrition and about fluoride, these new words become big words and important words and you might be the one person that makes a difference in their lives.”

Forsyth County Dental Society President and Pediatric Dentist Dr. Kelly Lipp said local dentists are honored to take the Preventive Dental referrals and also participate in Give Kids a Smile, which provides unserved children with free comprehensive dental care.

“The best way to treat dental disease is to prevent it in the first place” said Lipp.

In the last year, the Preventive Dental Health program screened 12,389 kids in all 44 local elementary schools, 4 charter schools and approximately 45 childcare centers, resulting in 1,381 referrals.

Additionally, Forsyth County Public Health also has the Cleveland Avenue Dental Clinic, which serves children and adults. It accepts Medicaid, NC Health Choice, Ameritas or a sliding scale for self-pay patients.