Bright Smiles Ahead: I-Smile Shields Kinsey Students’ Dental Health!
Sioux Center—At Kinsey Elementary School, an inspiring initiative is underway, ensuring that every student leaves with a bright, healthy smile. This week, the renowned I-Smile program is back in action, dedicated to transforming dental care for young learners.
For nearly two decades, Kinsey has been a proud participant in this incredible program, as highlighted by Dawn Ericson, the I-Smile coordinator with Cherokee County Public Health. Schools like Kinsey are selected for this vital service based on the percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-rate lunch, with a threshold set at a commendable 40 percent.
Funded entirely through the state’s Child Adolescent Health Grant, I-Smile is a flagship program of Iowa Health and Human Services, extending its reach across ten counties in Northwest Iowa. Its mission? To provide essential preventive dental care for elementary school students, which includes dental screenings, sealants, and fluoride varnishes—all critical steps toward ensuring our children’s oral health.
What exactly does this mean for our kids? A dental screening is a straightforward inspection that evaluates the health of their teeth, while dental sealants act as a protective barrier against cavities, covering the chewing surfaces of molars. And let’s not forget fluoride varnishes, which help stop cavities in their tracks and shield young teeth from decay.
As Jill Hulshof, the interim principal at Kinsey, passionately points out, many students are in desperate need of dental care, and the I-Smile program plays a pivotal role in supporting their overall health and well-being. “I’ve seen students smile up at me, and it breaks my heart to see their teeth rotting away,” she shared.
Some of her students even struggle to chew their food due to painful tooth decay—a reality that no child should ever face. But the efforts don’t stop with I-Smile. Kinsey is on a mission to educate its students about oral health and has teamed up with Sioux Center Dental to ensure every child receives a brand-new toothbrush.
Last year’s visit revealed a staggering 53 percent of participating children had decay issues, an alarmingly high rate. Ericson emphasizes, “Decay is the number one disease afflicting children. It can disrupt learning, sleep, and so much more. This isn’t just about teeth; it’s an infection that impacts the entire body. If kids can’t chew, it hampers their digestion and overall health.”
Protecting those precious baby teeth isn’t just important for chewing and eating; it also plays a crucial role in speech development and lays the groundwork for adult teeth to come in properly. Healthy baby teeth boost self-confidence and pave the way for a brighter future.
Collaboration with schools is vital for reaching children in need of preventive care. By providing consent forms for parents, schools help identify and connect these kids with the dental services they desperately require. “The schools are our greatest allies in locating these children and ensuring they receive the care they otherwise might miss out on,” Ericson explained. “For many of these kids, especially those on Medicaid or without insurance, school is their only access to preventive dental care.”
But this week is just the beginning. In the past, I-Smile has partnered with local dentists to offer additional free care for students facing more severe dental issues. Together, we can forge a path toward healthier smiles and brighter futures for our children.
