Local kids received a visit from the Tooth Fairy this week - along with a little tooth protection.

About 75 children gathered with their parents at Arroyo Grande Hospital Tuesday for a free dental check-up, a fluoride varnish treatment, and, of course, a special toy from the Tooth Fairy herself as a reward for their bravery.

The event was designed to bring essential dental services to children who might not have health and or dental insurance.

“What's hard is, we have a lack of (local) dentists who participate in DentalCal, so we are limited on access of care for the DentalCal population,” said Kena Burke, executive director of the Children's Health Initiative of San Luis Obispo County.

Only a handful of providers in the area accept DentalCal, a state insurance program for low-income families, which means that many local children don't receive important preventive care, such as fluoride varnish treatments in which a powerful fluoride is painted onto a young child's teeth.

Dentists recommend that children have the treatment - which prevents plaque build-up and tooth decay - three to four times per year.

However, the treatments can be expensive and are unaffordable for many uninsured children's parents, said Burke.

Advertisement

In May, the San Luis Obispo chapter of the Boys and Girls Club sponsored an event that provided the dental varnish to area children in need.

Upon receiving a grant from Arroyo Grande Hospital, the Children's Health Initiative, in conjunction with First Five, decided to hold their own varnish treatment function Tuesday night, with the Tooth Fairy's help.

With her belly full of the spaghetti dinner provided by Arroyo Grande Hospital,

6-year-old Kaitlyn Elder opened her mouth wide for dentist Joe Mercardante's inspection.

“Did you notice anything extra on her teeth?” Kaitlyn's grandmother, Amy Sue Elder, asked Mercardante.

“No, and don't worry about her condition. It's not anything (to worry about) now,” replied Mercardante, referring to Elder's concern about Kaitlyn's two overcrowded permanent teeth.

The four members of the Elder family - which includes Elder, her two grandchildren, and her son, the children's father - largely subsists on Elder's Social Security income.

“It's hard to keep things together when you're on Social Security,” said Elder.

To add to the difficulties, her granddaughter has a history of dental problems, Elder said, and has undergone oral surgery and had several teeth capped because of cavities.

The procedures were complicated by a pre-existing heart condition, which makes proper oral hygiene an even bigger issue for Kaitlyn, as bacteria from her teeth can enter her body and seriously aggravate the condition.

Thus, when she first heard about the fluoride varnish event through the Head Start class of Kaitlyn's 4-year-old brother, Carter, Elder said she jumped at the chance to attend.

“I'm very over-protective,” she laughed.

While their grandmother talked, Kaitlyn and Carter played in a pile of leaves, all smiles.

“It tasted good,” Kaitlyn said of the melon-flavored fluoride varnish. “We need to take care of our teeth.”

Natalie Ragus can be reached at 347-4580 or nragus@santamariatimes.com.

November 15, 2007