SMILES ON WHEELS

WITH PUBLIC ACT 161 IN 2005, THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ALLOWED FOR DENTAL HYGIENISTS TO PRACTICE IN APPROVED PUBLIC DENTAL PROGRAMS FOR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS UTILIZING A COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENT WITH A SUPERVISING DENTIST. SMILES ON WHEELS (SMILES) WAS FORMED IN 2006 TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES. SMILES IS A 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO IMPROVE THE PUBLICS TOTAL HEALTH THROUGH THE DELIVERY OF QUALITY ORAL HEALTH CARE. SMILES RECEIVES FUNDING FROM THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES SEAL MICHIGAN DENTAL SEALANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE DENTAL SEALANTS TO STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS. THE PROGRAM INITIALLY COVERED STUDENTS IN JACKSON COUNTY. SERVICES ARE NOW PROVIDED TO SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN IN 14 COUNTIES IN LOWER MICHIGAN AND 11 COUNTIES IN THE UPPER PENINSULA. ALL CHILDREN WITH A POSITIVE PERMISSION SLIP RECEIVE SERVICES, INCLUDING ORAL HEALTH EDUCATION. WHILE PROVIDING SEALANTS, SMILES SAW THE NEED FOR QUALITY, AFFORDABLE, AND AVAILABLE ORAL HEALTH CARE. SERVICES EXPANDED TO INCLUDE FLUORIDE TREATMENTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, ONSITE SERVICES TO ELDERLY MEN AND WOMEN IN ASSISTED LIVING OR GROUP HOMES, HOMELESS SHELTERS, AND OTHER HUMAN HEALTH SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SMILES SUPPORTS. SMILES ALSO PROVIDES KINDERGARTEN ORAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS (SIMILAR TO HEARING AND VISION SCREENINGS) TO STUDENTS UPON ENTERING KINDERGARTEN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SEVERAL LOCAL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS. THIS SERVICE IS TO IDENTIFY STUDENTS WITH UNMET DENTAL NEEDS AND PROVIDE REFERRALS FOR EARLY DETECTION AND TREATMENT TO HELP CHILDREN SUCCEED IN SCHOOL.