Smile Like You Mean It

By Brian Neuberger

As adults, many of us can still hear our parents dutifully asking, “Did you remember to brush your teeth?” right before we went to bed.

With oral hygiene a focal point consistently important throughout the years, it is no wonder that nearly all of us have used this hackneyed phrase as a barometer of success for our mornings and nights.

Understanding this importance, the Brown County United Way partnered with the N.E.W. Community Clinic and Bellin College of Nursing to put the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) dental initiative in motion.

The initiative was launched in October 2005 after extensive research by the United Way’s Health and Wellness Impact Council, chaired by Joyce McCollum of Bellin Health. The initiative targets low-income children under age six and their mothers who are enrolled in the program.

Nursing students are trained to provide one-on-one dental education to WIC clients, and a registered nurse applies a fluoride treatment to children’s teeth by appointment.

The students, all unpaid volunteers, are given a great opportunity to not only complete part of their clinical placement, but also to understand the specific needs of the low-income population and minority groups alike.

Studies have shown that the dental problem in Brown County is nothing to scoff at. Based on regional dental screenings, it is estimated that nearly 50 percent of children in the Green Bay Area Public Schools need basic-to-emergency dental care. By focusing on early prevention and education, the initiative is getting at the root of the problem by helping to prevent tooth decay in children before it starts.

Working with United Way staff members Rick LeMieux, director of community services, and Sarah Inman, community impact manager, Dental Associates, Ltd. in July came through with a generous donation of more than 1,000 child and adult-sized toothbrushes, as well as toothpaste and mouthwash samples. According to Inman, these donations will go a long way toward ensuring that WIC clients continue to receive free dental products.

“Dental care is important for all people,” said Dental Associates’ Business Developer Michael Glaser. “Unfortunately, not everyone can go to the dentist’s office. So, we see it as an opportunity for them to do the basics at home.”

There are two WIC sites in Green Bay, both administered through the N.E.W. Community Clinic. The east side location, which has a high rate of Hispanic clients, is funded through a grant from the Area Health Education Center of Northeastern Wisconsin. The west side location, funded by United Way initiative dollars, has a high rate of Hmong clients. Combined, the two sites serve approximately 5,500 Brown County women, infants and children per year.

“It’s amazing to see the amount of people who are not fully aware of the value of taking care of their teeth,” said Glaser. “Tooth problems not only affect one’s teeth, they can also lead to diseases throughout the body.”

“We’re hoping that the initiative will make a real and significant difference in children’s oral health down the road,” said Inman, who added, “ Bonnie Kuhr at the N.E.W. Community Clinic and Chris Vandenhouten at Bellin College of Nursing are phenomenal partners in this effort. Their expertise and participation has been critical to the initiative’s success.”

Steps are currently being taken to measure over the long-term the oral health of WIC children as they enter Head Start. The initiative has been so successful that other Wisconsin communities are taking notice. Similar programs will soon be replicated in Door and Kewaunee Counties.

Boy, would our parents be proud.

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