Assistant State Dental Director State of TN, Department of Health
Disclosure(s):
Lauren Weiland, MPH, RDH, BSDH: No financial relationships to disclose
Description: The School Based Dental Prevention Program is a statewide, year-round dental prevention program funded by Tennessee's Medicaid program, TennCare. This program was started in 2001 and administered by the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH). Since the inception, TDH has provided over 5 million sealants to children across Tennessee. The program offers preventive services that include, but not limited to, oral health education, oral health screenings, referrals for care, immediate need follow-up, prophylaxis, dental sealants, Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF), and fluoride varnish to children in grades Pre-K-8 in the school setting. The purpose of the School Based Dental Prevention Program is to reduce the number of children who experience tooth decay, and the conditions associated with decay – pain, infections, and tooth loss – which may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning.
