Integrating oral health into children's primary care as early as possible is vital to ensuring a healthier life into adulthood.
MCD Global Health has several oral health initiatives striving to improve children’s oral health and overall health. Our team is supporting delivery of preventive and early intervention oral health services to children in Maine, coordinating with health, school, and community partners, and exploring innovative approaches to increase access to care.
2022–2023 School Year
Schools visited throughout Maine for dental screenings
Students seen for dental screenings
Of those students referred for dental care
The School Oral Health Program (SOHP), which started as a fluoride-rinse program in the 1970s, is provided through the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The program focuses on providing preventative dental services to Maine’s school children; thus, reducing the proportion of school children who have dental decay.
MCD Global Health has a long history of providing embedded staffing support to Maine’s public health programs and initiatives. MCD’s team of field consultants and partner organizations perform oral screenings and fluoride varnish treatments to students in public schools. During the 2022-2023 school year, more than 18,400 students were seen, and 22.5% were referred for dental care.
“I, personally, want to thank you and everyone who made the computers and cameras possible. These new tools truly made a difference in how I was able to do my job this year. More importantly, it gave the nudge that Maine’s children needed to get their dental needs met.”
—Laura Jowdry-Berthiaume, RDH, IPDH
School Oral Health Program Field Hygienist
For questions about MCD's oral health initiatives/programs, please contact:
Danielle Peterson
Program Manager
To raise awareness about children's dental health, the Maine CDC's SOHP hosts an annual poster contest open to Maine public school students in grades PK-6. This year's ADA theme was "Brush Floss Smile."
In collaboration with the Childrens’ Oral Health Network of Maine, our team is developing a prototype adapting the virtual dental home model to medical settings (learn more).
For questions about the Virtual Dental Home, please contact:
Courtney Vannah
Senior Program Manager
The Maine Oral Health Coalition (MOHC) is a public-private partnership with the goal of improving access to oral care by advocating for quality preventive and comprehensive oral health care, as well as engaging in initiatives that prevent oral disease and promote better care.
