First 5 LA funds new dental program for kids

A new $1 million, three-year grant from First 5 LA will enable the Ostrow School of Dentistry at the University of Southern California (USC) to provide underprivileged children with oral health care and help them see a dentist regularly.

The Children's Health and Maintenance Program (CHAMP) will travel to Head Start and Women, Infants, Children centers throughout South Los Angeles, where Ostrow School faculty, students, and staff will screen children up to the age of 5 for dental problems, administer preventive fluoride treatments, and provide families with oral health education, according to the university.

In addition, to help families find a trusted "dental home" where children can receive regular dental care, the CHAMP team will provide referrals to Ostrow School clinics and community dental clinics, and train community dental providers on how to care for children age 5 and younger. USC School of Social Work students will also provide follow-up assistance to families, helping them understand and access dental care benefits and overcome other barriers to getting routine dental care.

"Only 25% of children eligible for Denti-Cal see a dentist," said Roseann Mulligan, associate dean for community oral health programs and hospital affairs at the Ostrow School, in a press release. "The earlier we can reach families and get children accustomed to going to a dentist, the more we can prevent disease instead of repairing damage."

During the first year, the program hopes to screen more than 2,000 children and help more than 800 families find regular dental care, Mulligan said.