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On Friday, Joanne Roos - who works as a certified dental hygienist that works at Main Street Pediatric Dentistry – visited kindergarten, first and second grade students at the Chapel School, where she informed and educated the children about the importance of dental health care.
National Children’s Dental Health Month was established more than 50 years ago by the American Dental Association to encourage children to get into a routine of good oral upkeep. According to school nurse Therese Domanick, a dental hygienist is invited to speak to students each year as part of the program.
“We want the students to be comfortable and unafraid of the dentist,” she said. “The chapel school regularly invites professionals from the local community to visit the students and educate them. These presentations are exciting for students, and can be connected to school curriculum and projects.”
Students were educated about proper brushing, flossing and eating habits with the help of several interactive puppets and props. They sang a “Brush Your Teeth” song and were informed about losing baby teeth, which Roos described as “wiggly teeth.”
“Many people are under the assumption that oral hygiene is not something that really needs to be worried about in young kids,” she said. “Developing good habits at an early age helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.”
Roos added that many children are needlessly fearful of the dentist, which she asserts is unnecessary. She noted that by participating in these outreach programs, she hoped that children would be more willing to visit the dentist.
“We want to let parents know that they can come visit and get acquainted with our dentist and the facility, to see if it’s a good fit before having any work done,” she said. “The child-friendly facility is decorated with fish and statues to look like you are underwater. We are a pediatric dentist, and we want them to have a fun experience.”
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