Mobile Dentists Coming To Carroll Schools

From Carroll County: The Big Smiles Maryland (Smile Maryland) mobile dentists will be at Robert Moton Elementary School throughout the day on Wednesday, October 17, and Thursday, October 18, 2018 (an early dismissal day for students).

Additional clinics will be held at Taneytown Elementary School on November 20 and 21 and Elmer Wolfe Elementary School on December 3 and 4.

The mission of Smile Maryland is to increase the quality of children’s lives by providing dental services to children. Medicaid and most private insurance are accepted and there is usually no cost to parents for the care. For children without insurance, a self-pay option is available in addition to donated care for students in need. No student is turned away based on his/her ability to pay. With parental permission, Smile Maryland provides dental exams, cleanings, fluoride treatments, x-rays, sealants, and minor restorative services on-site at the school. Each school site is served by a licensed Maryland dentist and hygienist.

Carroll County Public Schools partnered with the Big Smiles Maryland (Smile Maryland) mobile dentist program during the 2017-18 school year to provide in-school dental care to students in three elementary schools – Robert Moton, Elmer Wolfe, and Taneytown. A total of 169 students participated. The Partnership for a Healthier Carroll County, based on the Community Health Needs Assessment, identified dental care as a health issue for focus and prioritization. According to Ms. Filipa Gomes, Supervisor of Health Services for Carroll County Public Schools, “The hope is that the partnership with Smile Maryland can help increase access to dental care for students with the overall goal to reduce the risk of early tooth loss caused by dental decay, gum disease, heart disease, and impaired speech development.” Students requiring additional services are referred to local dentists and the Carroll County Health Department. Carroll County children ages 1-18 who have Medical Assistance can receive free dental care at the health department (for more info http://cchd.maryland.gov/dental-clinic/).

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