Seals on Wheels provides dental examinations by a licensed California dentist or hygienist, referral for operative treatment with our collaborative partners, placement of preventive dental sealants, and parent and child dental health education—all free of charge to disadvantaged children in Orange County at a variety of school sites. Schools qualify for the program if they have 50 percent or more students who participate in the Federal Free Lunch Program. Economic analyses suggest that community sealant programs provide cost savings when used in high-risk populations—typically low-income households with no access to dental care and often eating high sugar diets. The placement of sealants has been proven to reduce decay by 50 to 70 percent in this population, therefore saving very expensive trips to hospital emergency rooms to treat infection from tooth decay or an abscess.
Screening & Together As One We are one of the founding partners of the Together As One program. This collaborative, funded by The Coalition of Orange County Community Clinics, provides the students identified by our dental screenings with low-cost operative dental care. This program has been extremely effective due to the unique program structure including a patient liaison to call parents and place the child in care. Families also receive assistance with enrollment in dental insurance programs. Students are referred to participating community clinics when feasible. A mobile dental clinic provides service two days a week at other sites we identify. At least 2,000 dental visits were scheduled this year. This is the first program of this magnitude in our area, and we are very excited with its success. Funding has been renewed for two more years and was expanded to include five community clinics. |  |
 | Sealant Component Seals on Wheels targets Kindergarten, 2nd, 5th and 6th grade students due to molar teeth eruption patterns. Sealants are placed on healthy, permanent molar teeth to prevent decay. The first set of permanent molars usually erupts between 1st and 2nd grade, while the second set of permanent molars erupt between the 5th and 6th grade. The targeted ages allow us the best chance to access and seal a fully erupted tooth that has not yet decayed. |
Education Component Seals on Wheels also manages the Children's Dental Disease Prevention Program (CCDDPP) for the County of Orange Health Care Agency. The division of the state-funded program, known to thousands of Orange County children as "Teeth-4-Ever," has been in operation for over 20 years. Through this program, Seals on Wheels reaches over 30,000 at risk Preschool through 6th grade children per year with age appropriate dental health and nutrition education (curriculum utilized is developed by our staff, incorporating the California State Education Standards), fluoride, toothbrushes and dental floss. |  |
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