Organization: HEALTHY SMILES OF SPARTANBURG INC
Mission: TO ADVOCATE AND PROMOTE THE HEALTH OF SPARTANBURG COUNTY CHILDREN THROUGH FREE COMMUNITY DENTAL HEALTH SCREENINGS AND EDUCATION AND FREE ORAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR QUALIFYING CHILDREN.
Activities: SINCE THE INCEPTION OF HEALTHY SMILES FREE CHILDRENS DENTAL CLINIC IN 2007, 6,306 UNINSURED CHILDREN AGES 4 - 18 HAVE RECEIVED PREVENTATIVE TREATMENT AND BASIC RESTORATIVE CARE; CLEANINGS, ORAL EXAMS, FILLINGS, EXTRACTIONS, PULPOTOMIES(BABY ROOT CANAL), STAINLESS STEEL CROWNS, AND SPACE MAINTAINERS IN A CARING AND COMPASSIONATE ENVIRONMENT. LICENSED DENTAL PROFESSIONALS WORK WITH EVERY CHILD ON THEIR LEVEL, AT THEIR PACE, BUILDING A TRUSTING RELATIONSHIP. WITH AN AVERAGE OF 2 VISITS PER CHILD, URGENT DENTAL CARE VALUED AT $304,592 WAS PROVIDED THROUGH 1,218 CLINIC VISITS IN 2019-2020. TO QUALIFY FOR HEALTHY SMILES FREE CHILDRENS DENTAL CLINIC, A CHILD CANNOT HAVE DENTAL INSURANCE, DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR MEDICAID, AND QUALIFIES FOR FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH PROGRAMS. HEALTHY SMILES STAFF ARE BENEFIT BANK ADMINISTRATORS HELPING FAMILIES WITH THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR MEDICAID. HEALTHY SMILES FREE CHILDRENS DENTAL CLINIC IS LOCATED AT THE CENTRAL CAMPUS OF THE SPARTANBURG COMMUNITY COLLEGE WHERE CHILDREN RECEIVE FREE DENTAL CARE TWO WEEKENDS OUT OF THE MONTH. A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH THE SPARTANBURG COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING IN-KIND TO HEALTHY SMILES; ACCESS TO A STATE-OF-THE-ART DENTAL CLINIC, OFFICE SPACE, IT SUPPORT, PROGRAM SUPPORT, AND VOLUNTEER DENTAL ASSISTING STUDENTS. ACCORDING TO THE SPARTANBURG COMMUNITY INDICATORS REPORT 2016, THERE IS A 22% DECREASE IN CHILDREN DENTAL RELATED ER VISITS CONTRIBUTED TO HEALTHY SMILES OF SPARTANBURG PROGRAMS.
SINCE THE INCEPTION OF HEALTHY SMILES SCHOOL-BASED SCREENING PROGRAM IN 2008, 233,816 CHILDREN IN SPARTANBURG COUNTY HAVE BEEN SCREENED, AN AVERAGE OF 24,000 YEARLY SCREENED. ALL CHILDREN ARE SCREENED IN K4, K5, 1ST, 3RD, 5TH, 7TH, AND 9TH OR 10TH GRADES IN ALL SEVEN SPARTANBURG COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS. EDUCATION IS PROVIDED TO CHILDREN ON PROPER ORAL HEALTH AND NUTRITION AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO THEIR OVERALL HEALTH. CHILDRENS PARENTS RECEIVE AN ORAL ASSESSMENT FROM THE NON-INVASIVE DENTAL SCREENING PROVIDING FURTHER PREVENTATIVE AND RESTORATIVE DENTAL TREATMENT SUGGESTIONS. ELIGIBLE CHILDREN ARE REFERRED INTO HEALTHY SMILES FREE CHILDRENS DENTAL CLINIC HELD TWO WEEKENDS A MONTH.
OVER 92,434 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN SPARTANBURG COUNTY ARE EDUCATED ON PREVENTION OF ORAL DISEASE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER ORAL HEALTH BY EDUCATIONAL FLYERS IN SCHOOL REGISTRATION PACKAGES, COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIRS, SUMMER PROGRAMS AT BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, AND SPARTANBURG COUNTY RECREATION PARKS. FOCUS ON PREVENTATIVE CARE AND EARLY DETECTION OF TOOTH DECAY RESULTS IN LESS COST PER OUTPUT AND OUTCOME AND PROMOTES DENTAL HEALTH.
NTEE category: Health Care
Secondary category: Voluntary Health Associations & Medical Disciplines