Our Mission
To improve the oral health of children in Orange County through collaborative programs directed at prevention, outreach and education, access to treatment, and advocacy.
Clinical Program
Healthy Smiles is one of the only providers of sedation services (such as treatment under general anesthesia) for kids at no cost in Orange County. Services are provided both at the Garden Grove Clinic and at CHOC Children’s. This is a vital services for children with special needs, children that require extensive treatments, and medically fragile cases. Sedation can help increase cooperation and prevent injury by helping children remain still around dental instruments.
Teledentistry
Healthy Smiles is at the forefront of telehealth technology and currently operates one of the biggest school-based teledentistry programs in the nation. Children receive a full dental check-up (including a cleaning, fluoride, and x-rays) in the convenience of their own classroom. A dentist reviews the data offsite and creates a treatment plan. This strategy tackles traditional barriers to care such as a lack of reliable transportation and parent work schedules.
Smile Mobiles
Healthy Smiles utilizes 4 Smile Mobiles and one Trailer to provide preventative and restorative treatments at over 200 partnered schools and accessible community sites. Our Smile Mobiles are RVs transformed into fully functional and licensed clinical units. Our Smile Mobile units are also equipped to treat patients with special healthcare needs or disabilities, who comprise 50% of our patient population.
The Smile Mobiles visit schools and accessible community sites 5-6 days a week for 8 hours per day. In addition to screenings or treatment, a trip on the mobiles includes an educational exhibit teaching children and families the importance of daily care, routine dental visits, and proper food nutrition.
Number Of Reviews
Here are some facts
Nationally:
- 1. Tooth decay is the number one chronic childhood illness, resulting in over 51 million lost school hours each year (California Dental Association).
- 2. There are more than 2 million visits every year to hospital emergency rooms for dental pain (American Dental Association).
- 3. The US spends $1.9 billion on dental-related emergency room visits each year (American Dental Association).
In California
- 4. California children miss 874,000 days of school each year due to dental problems.
- 5. It is estimated that emergency room visits due to dental issues costs California $3.5 million annually (American Dental Association).
