El
Dorado County is celebrating the arrival of the El Dorado Smiles Dental Van to
local schools. The dental van will provide comprehensive dental care at school
sites, with a primary focus on children ages zero through 18. The dental van will
be operated by the El Dorado Community Health Centers as part of their recently
expanded dental health services, and is supported collaboratively by El Dorado
County schools, First 5 El Dorado Children and Families Commission, El Dorado
County Office of Education and the El Dorado County Health and Human Services
Agency.
“El Dorado Smiles Dental Van will fill
a critical need for dental care in our communities,” said Terri Stratton,
Executive Director of El Dorado Community Health Centers. “Currently, El Dorado
County has a limited number of dentists who accept Medi-Cal. The dental van will
help fill this gap for families on Medi-Cal. Children who go without basic
dental services end up with untreated dental problems that get worse. By addressing
dental needs early, the children seen on the dental van will have better overall
health.”
El Dorado Smiles Dental Van will travel to various school sites in
El Dorado County throughout the year on a pre-determined schedule. Services
offered will include cleanings, fluoride treatments, sealants, x-rays and
complete oral exams. Medi-Cal and private dental insurance will be accepted.
The dental van services will be provided to the children by
appointment on the school site. Parents will be asked to complete a health history
and consent form prior to setting up an appointment for the child to receive
services. Those without insurance can contact the Health and Human Services
Agency to find out options for insurance.
“We are very pleased to offer El Dorado Smiles Dental Van to the
community,” said Stratton. “We are excited about our partnership with local
schools to ensure that children have good access to dental care. We also hope
the dental van will help working families who may have had a hard time getting
their children in to see a dentist.”
For more information about the El Dorado Smiles Dental Van, please
call El Dorado Community Health Centers at (530) 497-5016. For a calendar with
tentatively scheduled dates and locations of the dental van, visit the
Community Health Centers’ website at www.edcchc.org
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