247 - Preliminary assessment of a New England school based dental program

Dental disease is the most common chronic illness for children in the United States although it preventable (Skinner & Johnson, 2020). School based dental programs are organized across the globe to aid in the improvement of oral health disparities and improve access to care for school-aged children who are high risk. These programs offer variable services, including oral health education (OHE), oral care screenings, diet counseling and preventative services (fluoride varnish and sealants). Programs are usually free of charge within a public-school setting. Furthermore, the resources provide an important network to families and communities (Bramantoro et al., 2021). This ongoing seeks to assess a school based program which includes a prevention program and a restorative clinic. Results of this project are pending; however, future research should aim to better understand the role of school-based programs in community health and the Impact for minority and vulnerable populations.