Wednesday at Stevenson Elementary School, 52 students had a little something extra in their day. In the midst of the typical lessons, lunch, recess and such, they also took a trip to the dentist, without even having to leave the school.

“It was great,” said Carol Kees, coordinator of the SES Family Resource Center. “So many parents don’t have insurance and can’t take their children to the dentist. This can save parents money.”

A trip to the dentist is especially important now since Kentucky this year started requiring kindergarten students to have a screening, which is what was provided for the students. All kindergarten students are required to have the screening within the first 30 days of school and many SES students did not have that on file at the start of the year.

Kees said they were thrilled to be able to take part in the dental care program this year. Logan County was not scheduled to participate in these programs until next year, but there was such a great need that arrangements were made to do so.

The Barren River Area Health Department made their first of several visits to Stevenson on Wednesday. Due to a $250,000 grant from the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky to use as an additional access point for kids that may not get to the dentist, the Portable Dental Team can visit eight counties in Kentucky.

This program is free to all students, and all children may participate, regardless of ability to pay, as long as their parent signs the consent form. The students at Stevenson received free exams, cleanings, and fluoride varnishings.

Kees said that since kindergarten students have to have the screenings, they were signing them up first. However, all students are eligible. The dental team will be back on Monday and again in October and Kees said they hope to serve as many or more students as they did on Wednesday.

Kees said the students who took part were great and the dental team was efficient, kind and caring.

“These people are used to working with children,” Kees said. “They did a great job.”

To find out more about the dental screening program, call Kees at 726-4798.