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Smile Programs... the mobile dentists

A Good Idea

Description

Smile Programs is a network of mobile teams that provide dental care to children in schools. Team members include locally-licensed dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants. Dentists provide a thorough dental examination, dental cleaning, fluoride treatment, sealants, and x-rays, when necessary.

The program partners with public schools to provide basic services to all students, regardless of their ability to pay. The services are provided at no cost to schools as traditional third party payers are billed. Parents of children without insurance can pay a subsidized reduced fee or seek grants to fund the entire amount.

Goal / Mission

The Smile Programs... the mobile dentists mission is to bring state-of-the-art, dental care to those students in need in the most comfortable and effective way possible.

Impact

Smile Programs provides mobile dental care to children in schools in over a dozen states.

Results / Accomplishments

Smile Programs has mobile dentists in over a dozen states and has treated over a million patients. Partnerships and relationships with hospitals and public health clinics ensure continuity of care for children who need further dental work. The program has been recognized for its work by several organizations.

About this Promising Practice

Primary Contact
Smile Programs
1-888-833-8441
caringdental@mobiledentists.com
http://www.mobiledentists.com/contactus.html
Topics
Health / Oral Health
Health / Children's Health
Health / Health Care Access & Quality
Date of implementation
1996
Location
USA
For more details
http://www.mobiledentists.com/
Target Audience
Children, Families

Related Promising Practices

  1. Dental Caries (Cavities): Community Water Fluoridation
  2. Dental Caries (Cavities): School-Based Dental Sealant Delivery Programs
  3. Healthy Kids Dental

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Related Content for: Smile Programs... the mobile dentists

A Good Idea meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program funding source, program implementation steps and outcomes.
  2. The program evaluation is limited to descriptive measure(s) of success/accomplishment (i.e., program participation rates, number of services/education sessions/radio messages provided). Note: oftentimes, the program has been newly implemented and a program evaluation has not yet been conducted. Programs that have not yet been evaluated, but which show promise in improving health or quality of life, are classified as Good Ideas until an evaluation is conducted.
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