Penn State Health Medical Group’s All About Children is educating its patients and their parents about the importance of oral health.
The medical practice expanded its 23-year partnership with Reach Out and Read, a national nonprofit organization promoting early childhood literacy, to implement a pilot program aimed at increasing oral health literacy in Berks County.
The goal is for families to understand the components of good oral health and to be able to advocate for quality dental care for children.
All About Children purchased age-appropriate oral health books for children up to age 9. The content of the books is reinforced by the Public Health Dental Hygienist Practitioner (PHDHP) who speaks with the children and their parents or caregivers while they are waiting in the examination rooms.
In addition to books, the patients receive toothbrushes and oral hygiene products. The PHDHPs perform an oral health risk assessment, counseling and education, and refer them to dentists by placing a phone call while they are in the office to schedule their appointment.
Mary Grace Rugh, right, a Public Health Dental Hygienist Practitioner, gives books on oral to a young mother at All About Children.
The program is using “before” and “after” surveys to evaluate its effectiveness.
The books for the program are funded in part by an $8,000 “Brush Up on Oral Health!” Impact Grant from the DentaQuest Fund of Berks County Community Foundation.