1. The Missouri Oral Health Preventive Services Program (PSP) The (PSP) is a free community-based, systems approach to population-based prevention of oral disease.
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Office of Primary Care and Rural Health Oral Health Program
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER
Services provided on a nondiscriminatory basis. 1 1 1

2. What Is The Preventive Services Program?
The Missouri Oral Health Preventive Services Program (PSP) is a community-based, systems approach to population-based prevention of oral disease. 2 2 2

3. PSP Methodology
SURVEILLANCE Annual screening by a licensed dentist or dental hygienist
EDUCATION
Curriculum materials available
PREVENTION
Fluoride varnish applied twice per year by volunteers
REFERRAL
Children needing early or immediate dental care 3 3

4. People Involved in the Event
EVENT COORDINATOR
Person coordinating the screenings, varnish, education and referrals for the school or agency.
Typically a School Nurse, Head Start Health Coordinator, County Nurse or Parent
SCREENER
VARNISH VOLUNTEER
OTHER ASSISTANT
Dentist
Parent, Nurse,
Parent, Nurse, Teacher or any
other Person interested in
helping with the details of
the Event or
Teacher or any other
Dental Hygienist
Person Interested in
Applying Varnish
You will be one of many involved in a PSP Event.
That is the purpose of PSP, many hands working together for the oral health of the community. 4 4

5. Roles and Responsibilities
Community
Program Contact
Local contacts and scheduling assistance
Personnel recruitment
Referral System Development
DHSS
An Oral Health Program Consultant
Media Campaign
Educational Materials
Screening supplies, toothbrushes, toothpaste & floss
Fluoride Varnish Supplies
Training
Support for community agency 5 5

6. Why Should You Consider PSP?
According to a recent survey of Missouri’s 3rd grade children:
Dental caries is a significant problem
Oral health varies across SES levels
Oral health varies across racial groups
A considerable portion of children do not have access to oral health care
Higher income children have less decay than lower income children statewide
Missouri’s children are less likely to have dental sealants than the national average, which puts them at risk for decay
Above data from: Show Me Your Smile survey 6 6

7. Overall
55% of Missouri’s third grade children had a history of experiencing tooth decay
27% of Missouri’s third grade children had untreated decay
Only 29% of Missouri’s third graders had dental sealants
72% had no obvious or unresolved problem
23% needed early intervention (within a few weeks)
5% needed urgent dental care (care within 24 hours)
Above data from: Show Me Your Smile survey
Studies show that tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease. It is five times higher than the next leading disease which is asthma! 7 7

8. Some Questions You May Have
Why Use fluoride?
Why Use fluoride varnish?
What is a screening?
How is a fluoride varnish applied?
What supplies are provided by DHSS?
What Supplies Does the Event Coordinator Need to Obtain?
What about paperwork? 8 8

9. Why Use Fluoride?
Historically, the use of fluorides both systemically in fluoridated drinking water and topically (such as through toothpastes, mouth rinses & professionally applied in dental offices) has demonstrated a dramatic reduction in tooth decay for well over 50 years in the United States. 9 9

10. Why Use Fluoride Varnish?
Fluoride Varnish has been proven effective in preventing tooth decay in both primary and permanent teeth.
Fluoride varnish can reverse early decay and can arrest active decay lesions.
Fluoride varnish promotes the remineralization of tooth enamel making it resistant to tooth decay.
Fluoride varnish is readily adaptable requiring no special equipment and can be applied in a variety of settings (school classroom, library or gymnasium).
Fluoride varnish sets on contact with moisture (saliva), reducing the risk of ingestion and is therefore recommended for all ages.
Fluoride varnish is a cost effective preventive measure against tooth decay. 10 10

11. Fluoride Varnish is Endorsed by the Following Associations ….
American Dental Association
Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 11 11

12. What is a Screening? Not a thorough clinical exam, no x-rays are taken
Does not involve making a clinical diagnosis that results in a treatment plan
Does identify obvious oral lesions
Is conducted by licensed dentists and dental hygienists 12 12

13. How Is The Fluoride Varnish Applied?
The varnish is “painted”on all the surfaces of the teeth with a disposable applicator.
The process takes approximately 1-4 minutes for each child. 13 13

14. What Supplies are Provided by DHSS?
These are ordered through a DHSS Oral Health Consultant
Supplies from DHSS include:
Screening Forms
Disposable Mouth Mirrors
Fluoride Varnish
Toothbrushes and Toothpaste
Dental Floss
Educational Materials 14 14

15. What Supplies are NOT Provided by DHSS?
Face Masks
Latex –Free Gloves
Light Source(flashlight)
Hand Sanitizer
The school nurse or PSP event facilitator will provide masks, gloves, flashlights ( for the oral screenings) and hand sanitizer . 15 15

16. What Space is Needed for a PSP Event?
Provide an area with good lighting (an unused classroom, gymnasium or corner of a library will suffice).
When choosing an area, try to maintain some privacy for each child as some children will have dental decay and poor oral hygiene.
Straight back chairs will be adequate for both the screening and varnish placement.
Provide a table or desk top for your volunteers to hold their supplies. 16 16

17. What About Paperwork?
DHSS provides all forms necessary for initiating and implementing the program.
Screenings are to be done by dentists or dental hygienists only. Others may help with recording the findings.
The coordinator of the event will make sure participating children have Parental/Guardian consent. Only those children who have positive consent forms will be screened & varnished.
Screening forms are to be completed by filling in each of the circles on the form in either pen or pencil.
All completed paperwork is to be collected by the event coordinator. It is to be reviewed for completeness as well as for obtaining information for those requiring referral, then mailed to DHSS.
The screening forms used to collect information are to be completed by someone other than the dental screener, therefore it is essential to have someone assist the screener by recording the findings onto the screening form. Self addressed, postage paid envelopes are provided to send the completed screening forms back to DHSS. 17 17

18. PSP Activity
Activity for the school year over 72, 000 children were screened. This has provided baseline data that will be essential in determining outcomes
Approximately 1,000 licensed dental professionals have been calibrated to conduct oral screenings, plus approximately 3,800 volunteers have been trained to apply the fluoride varnish. 18 18

19. The End Result…..
Happy and Healthy
Smiles 19 19

20. For more detailed information on The Preventive Services Program and to find an Oral Health Program Consultant nearest you, please please visit our website at: 20 20