What if we could make going to the dentist as easy as going to school? At The Forsyth Institute, we asked ourselves just that.
For too many children, access to high-quality dental care remains as tenuous as it was when Forsyth opened its doors. Today, Forsyth not only helps individual children but also develops models that can ultimately serve entire populations.
The ForsythKids program provides children in underserved Massachusetts communities with high-quality preventive dental care and oral health education.
How it Works
ForsythKids works by going where the children are – in schools, and in some cases community centers and summer camps. It began in 2003 as a pilot program in Boston, Hyannis and Lynn, three communities with a shortage of dental professionals or other issues of access to care. Today, ForsythKids provides care to thousands of children throughout eastern Massachusetts.
Forsyth’s licensed pediatric dentists and dental hygienists set up care facilities in the schools using portable and disposable equipment. All children in the elementary school are eligible to participate in the program. The program is designed to fill the gap in dental care for at-risk children and ensure that they get prevention as early as possible. The ForsythKids team visits schools in the fall and spring to maintain ongoing dental care.
Each child receives a dental exam from a pediatric dentist and instruction in how to brush effectively. On the second day, the children have their teeth cleaned and treated with fluoride and sealants. Those with decay receive a parental report to help facilitate the process of obtaining insurance and finding a dentist for permanent fillings. The program features oral health education and materials – including toothbrushes and toothpaste – for the children and information for them to take home to their parents. This model of care is designed so that it can be replicated in any community.
If you are interested in learning more about bringing ForsythKids to your school, please contact Kathy Eklund at keklund@forsyth.org.
