Thirty-two students at Stevenson Elementary were the first in our area to experience a program that originated in Nevada. This program, Big Smiles, has now expanded into twenty states, including Kentucky. Kat Adams, Corporate Trainer with Big Smiles, was flown in from Las Vegas to help get this program started in our state. Dr. Jennifer Sullivan, who practices dentistry in Lexington, and Allison Wipple, DA, from Bardstown, have contracted with Big Smiles to initiate the program in this area.

These three women helped students at Stevenson Elementary School on April 11 and 12, and then traveled to North Todd Elementary to work there for two days before returning to their homes.

While on site at SES, they administered preventive care including digital x-rays, cleanings, fluoride, and sealants. They used paperless tablet personal computers for charting.

Carol Kees, Stevenson Elementary Family Resource Center Coordinator, heard about this program last summer and made contact with the company to see if she could get them to come to SES. Big Smiles forwarded the applications to participate in the program and they were distributed at the beginning of the school year.

“I was seeing so many students that were in need of not only restorative care, but also preventative care, that I began to look for ways to help students receive the care they so desperately needed,” kees said. “Of the students seen at SES during this two day visit, 81 percent of them were found to be in need of fillings and/or other restorative care. This figure alone demonstrates the great need that we are seeing day in and day out with our kids.”

Big Smiles plans to return to SES soon and hopes to create a dental home at school for children that are not obtaining dental care. Allen Hersh with Big Smiles states that he is in hopes of being able to bring the program to Stevenson at least two times during our upcoming school year. Mrs. Kees has requested a “summer clinic” date where students can come with their parents in order to receive the restorative care that they need. If this can be arranged, Mr. Hersh says that this will be a first for them, but Mrs. Kees has high hopes for it to happen.

Mrs. Kees also said that the collaboration of the Barren River District Health Department and the Logan County Oral Health Coalition has been another great asset to SES in providing preventative health care for students.

Those volunteers have brought their mobile units to SES and have already seen 284 students during regularly scheduled school days this year, and they plan to conduct screenings for children in the Early Childhood Program in May.