Project Saving Smiles (PSS): Addressing Oral Health Disparities in Houston

Oral health plays a significant role in one's overall health and well being. The 2001 Dental Needs Assessment in Harris County revealed 45.9% of 2nd graders had untreated decay. Children who suffer from oral health problems cannot learn well in school. Using evidenced-based and community-based preventive dental approach, Project Saving Smiles (PSS) provides dental screening, dental sealants, fluoride varnish and oral health education free of charge targeting 2nd graders who are in the Free and Reduced Lunch Program. The HDHHS spearheads this collaborative effort in partnerships with public and private entities. The project goal is to address oral health disparities through a unique partnership which promotes oral health and enhances school attendance and performance among low socioeconomic children in Houston.

Dental sealants are thin coatings applied to the chewing surface of the back teeth to prevent cavities. Fluoride varnish is a protective coating painted on the teeth to help prevent new cavities and to stop cavities that have already started. Since PSS' inception in 11/08, 89 local schools have participated in PSS, 3,830 2nd graders have been screened, and 11,336 teeth have been sealed. Utilizing the three-prong prevention approach, PSS has become the primary preventive oral health infrastructure for Houston. Having identified children with dental needs, PSS staff and the school nurses link the children to dental homes.