The Florida Department of Health in Okeechobee County’s School Health Program provides a School-based Dental Sealant Program. This program provides preventative dental services by a licensed dental hygienist in the school setting at no cost!
Dental Services Include
Exams
Regular dental exams are crucial for maintaining your child’s oral health. We recommend bringing your child for an exam every six months, starting at the age of 1 and continuing up to the age of 20. These early and consistent visits help your child develop a positive and comfortable relationship with dental care.
During the initial exam, our dentist will take x-rays, perform a thorough visual examination, and check for any signs of inflammation, plaque, tartar, or cavities. If any issues are discovered, we will recommend appropriate solutions to restore your child’s teeth to a clean and healthy state. After the comprehensive exam, we will schedule regular evaluation and treatment appointments as necessary. As general dentists, we will also provide referrals to dental specialists if your child requires more advanced care.
Cleaning
Even with diligent brushing, flossing, and mouthwash use at home, your child may miss some areas of their mouth. Regular professional teeth cleanings ensure that your child’s teeth and gums remain healthy. Our qualified dental staff will remove any hard deposits, called calculus or tartar, that cannot be eliminated with a toothbrush or floss. We will also provide tips on improving at-home oral care.
Children can sometimes experience gingival swelling, known as gingivitis. Routine cleanings not only help prevent cavities but also maintain your child’s gum health. By establishing a commitment to regular dental cleanings, you are setting your child up for a lifetime of healthy, beautiful smiles.
Sealants
Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease, often leading to pain, school absenteeism, and poor school performance. We offer dental sealants as a preventive measure to protect your child’s teeth from decay. Sealants are thin plastic coatings that keep food and germs out of the chewing surfaces of the teeth, effectively reducing the risk of cavities.
Sealants are typically applied to the back teeth, known as molars and premolars, as soon as they appear in the mouth, usually around the age of five or six. The application process is quick and painless. First, the chewing surfaces of the teeth are cleaned to help the sealant adhere properly. Then, the sealant is painted into the grooves of the chewing surface, where it bonds to the tooth. A special light is used to harden the sealant. Sealants generally last about five years or longer and should be checked annually.
Referrals
In some cases, we may have to refer clients to dental specialists who have expertise in specific treatments that we do not offer in our office, such as pediatric dentists for multiple caries lesions, multiple extractions, space maintainers, or cases that require anxiety-reducing techniques like nitrous oxide, IV sedation, or general anesthesia. Endodontists are consulted for root canal treatment on permanent teeth when cavities are extensive and have infected the tooth’s nerve.
For crowns, which are tooth-colored restorations that cover the entire tooth for protection, we may refer children to general dentists, especially after root canal treatments, large caries, or significant fractures. Once a child’s teeth are cavity-free and their gums are healthy, we may recommend an orthodontist to improve tooth alignment and bite.
In cases where teeth need removal or there are concerns about the jaw joint or pathology seen clinically or in x-rays, we will refer children to oral surgeons for evaluation and treatment.