FirstHealth Bringing Dental Care Right to Students in Montgomery County
| Date Posted: 11/3/2022
Pictured left to right: Jessica Seaford, RDH, Vanessa Brito-Hernandez, DAII, Paul Hood, DDS
and Bonifacia Deloya.
TROY, N.C. – FirstHealth of the Carolinas is launching a new portable dental care program to reach students who attend Montgomery County elementary schools. Funded by The Duke Endowment, the program’s target population are students who receive Medicaid, Health Choice, or are uninsured and qualify by income, particularly those who do not already have a dental home.
Launched in October, Dental Care’s portable care program is designed to remove roadblocks to dental care by taking care of children during their normal school day. Services available through the Portable Dental Care Program include:
- Exams
- X-rays
- Cleanings
- Sealants
- SDF (silver diamine fluoride)
- Restorative
Sharon Nicholson Harrell, DDS, MPH, FAGD, Director of FirstHealth Dental Care, said the team is thrilled to expand care options in Montgomery County.
“There are many advantages to providing care this way. Parents don’t need to worry about adjusting their work schedules for an appointment, and students miss less time from school by not being checked out early or arriving late,” Dr. Harrell said. “Dr. Paul Hood, DDS and Jessica Seaford, RDH, have put in so many hours into making this launch a success, making sure these appointments teach good dental habits.”
Dena Hunt, the program manager for Dental Care, said parents will consent to have their children’s dental needs cared for in the school setting. Dentists will set up equipment in a designated room that can accommodate two dental chairs and include a sink.
“We plan to make this as easy as possible, with our Dental Care staff going to classes to get students and returning them when treatment is complete,” Hunt said. “We hope to expand this to Montgomery County high schools next year.”
About FirstHealth Dental Care
Since 1998, FirstHealth Dental Care has provided care to more than 30,000 underserved children in Moore and Montgomery counties. The dentists and staff at FirstHealth Dental Care provide care for children from birth to 21 years who receive Medicaid, Health Choice or are uninsured and qualify by income level.
