In-School and On-Site
Dental Program
April, 2013
“Enhancing the quality
of life for children.”
Did you know?
 Dental decay is the most common chronic
and infectious disease in children.
 4 out of 5 low-income children do not see
a dentist during the course of a year.
 Children miss about 52 million hours of
school due to oral health problems.
 Poor access to dental care remains a
barrier to maintaining good oral health.
 The U.S. Surgeon General & American
Dental Association recommend in-school
dental outreach programs as an effective
means of reaching low-income children.
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Logistical Support Services
Smile Programs provides logistical support services to locally licensed
dentists to enable the dentists to provide dental care in schools.
Smile Programs are contracted by dentists to manage the following
logistical services.
Scheduling of schools
• Contacting staff to be at the school
• Arranging appointments
• Arranging transportation of dental equipment and supplies
• Supply ordering
• Permission slip distribution and collection
• Demographic information management
• Billing services
• Assist doctors with creating referral sites who will accept patients requiring care
outside of what can be provided at school
• Assist dentists with coordination of dental services to referral location
• Assist dentists with coordination record storage, retention and sending out
records when needed
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Logistical Support Services
Why do local dentists need them?
• Many dentists are interested in
providing outreach services
• Dentists view the logistics
necessary providing school-based
services onerous and complex
• Smile Programs assist these
dentists in providing the care
they wish to deliver
• There is a very high job
satisfaction among these dentists
who do outreach services for
children in need in schools.
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Logistical Support Services
Smile Programs helps to coordinate these services with:
• Schools
• Head Start and Pre-school programs
• WIC centers
• Group Homes
• Juvenile Centers
• Community Health Centers
• Public Health Programs
• MCO's
• Health Fairs
• and others
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Smile Program’s Mission?
...to coordinate dental services for economically
disadvantaged children in the school setting.
• Of the 30MM+ Children on Medicaid, 2/3 won’t see a dentist this year
̶ January, 2014, additional 4MM Children will gain dental coverage
through the Affordable Care Act
̶ Mostly inner-city, minorities and poor rural areas
• Smile Programs distributes flyers and information
̶ Prevention program including cleaning, fluoride, sealants , fillings
and extractions
̶ Each state has a PC who employs teams of dentist and hygienists
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Smile Program’s History
• Brief History:
̶ Founded in 1997 in the Detroit area by Drs. Marcy Borofsky and
Margo Woll - friends, busy mothers and career dentists.
̶ Identified the need of the 30+ MM under-privileged children who
were not getting basic preventive care, often because they were
not taken to a dentist.
̶ Innovated the concept of bringing dental care to these children
directly at their schools.
̶ Developed special portable equipment and a program to bring
dental professionals to schools, who would provide preventive
services including cleaning, fluoride treatment and sealants to
children.
̶ By 2007, serviced 14 states and started offering comprehensive
care (prevention and restorative) in select markets.
̶ In 2008, joined forces with an Arizona based company, and in 2010
with a GA based company.
̶ Now offer services in 23 states
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Our Goals and Objectives
 Deliver quality dental services and oral health education to children at
their schools while providing a secure and familiar environment.
 Establish a positive dental experience, including oral hygiene
instruction, to instill healthy hygiene practices that will influence the
child’s overall health throughout their life.
 Safeguard quality dental care by having dentists and dental
professionals who are respectful, knowledgeable, competent, gentle,
compassionate, meet state and federal guidelines for the practice of
clinical dentistry, and dedicated to helping and safeguarding children.
 Encourage and assist families who don’t have insurance and are eligible
for Public Aid or CHIP, to apply for assistance.
 Refer patients requiring additional care to private and public health
dentists.
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School-Based Dental Program
• Program created as recommended by the
CDC and U.S. Surgeon General Guidelines.
• Program is offered at NO COST TO SCHOOLS
or facilities.
• All dental services covered by Medicaid
and/or state CHIP programs.
• Dental services are provided by or under the
direct on-site supervision of a state licensed
dentist.
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How We Operate
Step: 1
Dental staff sets up a mobile dental clinic
at the school
Step: 8
Step: 2
The school is scheduled for its next 6
month visit and often for its next one year
visit as well
Exam is conducted
Step: 7
Step: 3
Patients needing additional care are either
rescheduled or referred to a fixed site
dental office
X-rays are taken, appropriate treatment is
determined and provided
Step: 6
Step: 4
Case files are returned to administrative
centers for processing
Oral health instruction is given and a
dental report card is provided along with a
toothbrush for each student to take home
Step: 5
The school nurse or point of contact
receives a copy of the dental report and is
asked to fill out a satisfaction survey
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In-School Dental Services Provided
• Dental examinations and screenings
• Dental cleaning/prophylaxis
• Fluoride – tray application
• Fluoride varnish
• X-rays, when necessary
• Sealants when indicated
• Fillings
• Pulpotomies
• Simple Extractions
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Program Description
• Permission forms for each child are sent
to the school for distribution to the
students – completed and signed
permission forms are collected and
returned to us in a self-addressed
postage paid envelope.
• On the scheduled date, dental teams
comprised of a licensed dentist and staff
arrive at the school in a mobile mini-van
equipped with specially designed,
portable dental equipment including a
dental chair, sterilizer, compressor,
x-ray unit, sterile instruments etc.
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Program Description
• The dental team converts a
classroom or predetermined area in
the school, into a fully functional
makeshift “dental office” for the day.
• Children receive quality preventive
and restorative dental care in a
comforting and familiar
environment.
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Program Description
• Students are shown a video on proper
brushing/flossing techniques.
• Students who receive services are given an “oral
health report card” to take home. A copy is also
left with the school nurse.
• If parents have not given permission for
restorative care or if children are not insurance
eligible, our Patient Care Coordinators will
contact the parents to let them know that they
need additional care. If we cannot reach parents
with two phone calls, a letter is sent.
• X-rays that are taken at our "Dental Day” are
made available to patients & referral dentist(s)
with completed release forms.
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Oral Health Educators
• Trained staff (aka “The Tooth Fairy”) visit a school.
• A fun and educational presentation is made to the children in
their classrooms.
• The 5 – 8 minute presentation:
̶ uses a puppet to show the children how to brush
their teeth
̶ talks about the importance of taking care of their teeth
̶ talks about eating healthy foods
̶ stresses the importance of seeing the
dentist twice per year
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Providing and Ensuring Quality Care
• We comply with all HIPAA and OSHA rules and regulations
including Universal Precautions and sterilization policies.
• Background checks performed on all dentists, hygienists and
assistants.
• All professional licenses reviewed for current status and eligibility.
• The team doctor completes the examination, monitors and signs
all documentation and oversees delivery of care.
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Providing and Ensuring Quality Care
• Daily communication is required between home office & field teams
• Dentists and team leaders report to home office regarding quality issues
̶ Performance issues are addressed immediately and monitored
• Extensive network of dental partners – Locally licensed dentists willing
to accept all patients (Medicaid and local CHIP)
̶ Local, public health and private dentists
̶ List of dental partners is made available to parents in writing and
accessible on our website
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Providing and Ensuring Quality Care
• Oral health report card/patient record are completed for each child
receiving dental services
• A program satisfaction survey is given to schools after each visit
• Quality Control Program monitors sealant retention (sealants are
replaced at no cost, when missing)
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Services Offered Mirror that of a typical
General Dentistry Office
Diagnosis and Preventive Services
• Comprehensive exam
• Digital x-rays
• Cleanings
• Fluoride treatments
• Sealants (when indicated)
Restorative Services
• Fillings
• For primary teeth:
̶ Pulpotomies
̶ Stainless steel crowns
̶ Extractions
̶ Space maintainers
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Basic Set-up and Operating Model
• Smile Programs brings state-of-the-art portable dental
•
•
•
•
equipment
̶ Self-contained dental units that require no
modification to electrical or plumbing.
Smile Programs’ Call Center provides assistance in
signing up & scheduling patients.
Smile Programs accepts most dental plans
Certain administrative functions are done off-site (i.e.,
claims administration, IT)
Additional cost savings can be discussed when
company holds ongoing dental clinics.
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Facility Requirements are Minimal
Typical room set-up and portable equipment at Employer Site. Equipment
can be set-up or dismantled in approximately 40 minutes.
̶ 180 sq. ft.
needed
̶ No sink required
in room
̶ Smile Programs
ensures HIPAA
and OSHA
compliance
̶ Privacy curtains
set-up as
necessary
Digital Xray area
12’
Privacy barrier
Portable dental chair
& Equipment
Door
14’
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Electronic Records System
Tablet PC provides all past treatment data as well as treatment
plan. No internet connectivity need be provided by Site.
̶ Track patient
treatment
̶ Automate
billing
procedures
̶ Provide
records
quickly to
specialty
referral
offices
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Case Specialists
Our Case Specialists ensure ease and effectiveness.
̶ Handle all
inquiries from
patients so the
employer
doesn’t have to
Smile Programs Business Center
Staffing level: 70 agents
̶ Proactively
notify and
schedule
patients/schools
when they are
due for
treatment
̶ 24x7x365
clinical
availability in
case of
emergency
̶ Bilingual
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Grants Awarded (Partial listing)
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award Grantee
• Oral Health America
• Community Foundations
• Annenberg Schools for the 21st Century
• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• HRSA Sealant Grant
• The Lovelight Foundation
• Michigan Department of Community Health
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Program Satisfaction Survey
A program satisfaction survey is given to sites after each visit.
Would You Refer Our Program to Others? 100% YES
Did Our Program Meet Your Expectations? 99.3% YES
Delivery of Dental Services to the Patients By 98% EXCELLENT
Dental Team:
Helpfulness and Attitude of Visiting 98% EXCELLENT
Clinical Staff:
Helpfulness and Attitude of 98% EXCELLENT
Office Staff:
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Program Satisfaction
What Our Clients Say About Us…
“I didn’t want the year to end without taking this opportunity to let you know
what a pleasure it was working with your amazing staff at our recent Boston
Musicians’ Dental Clinic last month. The Boston Musicians’ Association officers
and the clients who received services all commented on the high quality of care
the clients received during the clinic event…a tribute to the success of our ongoing and collaborative efforts! I look forward to our continued cooperation and
again, I thank you.
Dee Dee Acquisto, M.S., Senior Director, Health & Human Services, MusiCares
“Your staff has always been extremely courteous and prompt.”
Tamika McCombs, secretary, Center for Literacy and Creativity, Detroit
“This is an excellent outreach to the community. The staff was very professional. It
was just like being in a dental office.” Jeni Stuart, HCA, Kenneth Co. Culbert
Elementary, Hamilton, VA
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Program Satisfaction
What Our Clients Say About Us…
“We are so grateful for your recent visit to St. Margaret’s House. The work you do reaches
a very specific population in need. We are touched and overwhelmed by your generosity.
Your work helps our guests to live more comfortable and dignified lives. Because of your
thoughtfulness and dedication to serving the community, we are able to offer the women
and children who come to us seeking help additional services. We are honored by your
support and we want you to know that your work is making areal difference in the lives of
the women and children of St. Margaret’s House.”
Angelica Healy, Guest Services Coordinator, St. Margaret’s House, South Bend, IN
“Excellent services – very professional. The children were very comfortable with staff.”
Diane Marshburn, RN, Garfield Jackson Academy, East Orange, NJ
“Polite, efficient, and able to work with children well.”
Patti Zehall, RN, Church Street School – Hamden, CT
“It was amazing how you transformed a classroom into a dental clinic. The staff were very
professional and reassured those children who were anxious.”
Anita Carstens, Special Events Coordinator, Liberty Elementary, Baltimore, MD
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Questions
For Program Information
Contact: 888-833-8441
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