Keywords

oral health, fluoride treatment, first graders, education, rural healthcare

Abstract

Purpose: To improve access to oral health assessments, fluoride treatments, and follow-up dental care for children in Grand County, Utah.

Introduction: Grand County, Utah, has limited access to dental care. More residents live below the poverty line than the national average. The county has only two dentists serving an approximately 16,000-person population.

Methods: We provided oral health education to elementary school children, distributed toothbrushes and dental floss with one-on-one toothbrush training, and conducted oral health assessments to identify conditions such as dental caries, dental abscesses, and gum disease. For students with parental consent, we also applied fluoride varnish.

Results: Of the 71 school-aged children who participated, 37 received fluoride treatments. Examination results revealed that five children were missing teeth, 24 exhibited signs of tooth decay, and 80 decayed teeth were identified. Fifteen children were referred to a dentist for further evaluation and treatment, while four were referred to specialists for more specialized care.

Conclusion: Oral health is vital for overall well-being, impacting eating, speaking, immune function, cardiovascular health, chronic conditions, social interactions, confidence, and quality of life, and for children, particularly those in economically disadvantaged communities with limited dental care access, maintaining good oral health can be especially challenging. Our project has helped address some of these needs by improving access for children residing in Grand County, Utah, through oral health education, preventive treatments, and early identification of dental concerns.

Document Type

Master's Project

Publication Date

2025-06-03

Language

English

College

Nursing

Department

Nursing

University Standing at Time of Publication

Graduate Student

Course

NURS 618

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