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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, March 10, 2005
| Contact: |
Sherri
McDonald, Director,
Thurston
County
Public Health and Social Services,
360-786-5201 |
|
Angela Campbell, Education and Outreach Specialist I,
360 709-3070 |
Preventative
Dental Care Program Receives Recognition
OLYMPIA
– A special program in
Thurston
County
has received recognition for efforts to make dental services available to low
income children. The Access to
Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD) program was recently awarded an “A” by
Oral Health
America
for innovative strides to prevent and control tooth decay in babies and
children. Their report states that
almost twice the number of Medicaid eligible children receive dental care in
counties with an ABCD program, including Thurston.
In
Thurston
County
there was a total of 668 children enrolled in the program in 2003 with another
516 enrolled in 2004. The program
provides treatment for tooth decay and prevention of cavities for kids up to
age 6. (Children must be enrolled
by age 5.) Since the inception of
the program through January of 2005, a total of 4,168
Thurston
County
children have taken part. Currently
20 of the 26 dentists who are in the program locally are taking new patients.
ABCD is collaborative effort of the Washington
State Department of Social and Health Services’ Medical Assistance
Administration’s Medicaid program, Washington Dental Service Foundation, the
University
of
Washington
, Dental Societies and
Thurston
County
’s Public Health and Social Services Department.
Similar programs are also set up in 22 other Washington Counties.
“This is one more example of a cooperative
effort that is really paying dividends in the community,” says Thurston
County Public Health and Social Services Director Sherri McDonald.
“The ABCD program not only repairs cavities and prevents tooth decay,
but it also helps children down the road toward a lifetime of good oral
health.” Under the program,
families are encouraged to get a dental check-up for their child by age one.
Families are also educated about good oral health practices and
high-risk children are put in contact with other appropriate dental services.
Participating dentists are educated in new
treatment techniques and they receive additional Medicaid reimbursements to
pay for preventative care. Doctor
Irene Hunter of the
Tenino
Family
Dental
Center
says the work is very satisfying. “You
can really make a difference when a child is young and it really matters.
It’s great to be able to help bring good dental practices to very
young children. The ABCD program
is great because it brings best dental practices to those at high risk who
have limited access to care and I’m pleased to be taking part in delivering
those services.”
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