Ida Gray Nelson Rollins, DDS

Black History Month

Learn about Ida Gray Nelson Rollins, DDS

Dr. Ida Gray Nelson Rollins was the first Black woman to become a dentist in the United States. After earning a Doctorate in Dental Surgery from the University of Michigan in 1890 (the first woman to do so), Dr. Nelson Rollins opened her own practice in Cincinnati, Ohio. She later moved to Illinois and became the first African American, man or woman, to practice dentistry in Chicago. She was known to provide compassionate care to people of all backgrounds and especially prided herself on working with young children.

Dr. Nelson Rollins was deeply committed to her community as a provider and through her role as vice president of the Professional Women’s Club of Chicago, which maintained the city’s only shelter for Black women.

News Bite

Community Fluoridation Legislation

Several oral health-related bills have been introduced during this year’s Washington State legislative session. One bill, House Bill 1251, would require public water systems considering discontinuing water fluoridation to 1) collect the most up-to-date public health information about fluoride from the Washington Department of Health and 2) disseminate the information to the community and create opportunities for public input.

Drinking fluoridated water can significantly reduce the chances of oral decay in children and adults. While untreated water naturally contains some level of fluoride, it is typically not enough to provide oral health benefits. Community water fluoridation is recommended by the American Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, World Health Organization, and nearly all other major public health and dental organizations.

House Bill 1251 was passed out of the House of Representatives on February 9 and is now awaiting a hearing in the Senate’s Health and Long-Term Care committee.

Parent Bite

What are dental sealants, exactly?

At some point during your child’s visits to the dentist, your dental professional will likely recommend applying a dental sealant to help prevent cavities. When it comes to any health-related recommendation, it is natural for parents and caregivers to have questions. So, what are dental sealants exactly, how are they applied, and how do they protect against cavities?

What are dental sealants? The sealant itself is a thin, transparent liquid coating. While there are a few different types of sealants dentists use, most are made of a composite resin (mixture of ceramic and plastic compounds). Composite resin is water-repelling, which helps keep bacteria away. For children, the dentist may recommend a glass isomer (GI) or polyacid-modified sealant, which delivers fluoride to the teeth slowly over a long period of time.

How do sealants protect against cavities? Are there health risks? According to the CDC, American Dental Association (ADA), Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and many other professional organizations, dental sealants are a quick, easy, and painless way to prevent cavities. Dental sealants are typically applied to back teeth (molars) which have deeper grooves and pits compared to other teeth, making it easier for food and bacteria particles to collect. 90% of cavities occur here!

The sealant provides a layer of protection by smoothing out the grooves and pits, making it easier to brush food away. Sealants can protect against 80% of cavities and can eliminate the need for more expensive and more invasive treatments.

How are sealants applied? When applying the sealant, the dentist or dental hygienist will first clean and dry the teeth before applying an etching solution, which roughens the surface of the tooth so that the sealant can hold more effectively. The sealant is then painted on the tooth and hardened with a curing light.

Sealant recommendations: The ADA recommends that children have dental sealants in place immediately after their first and second sets of molars appear (age 6 and 12, respectively). As a preventive treatment, sealants are often 100% covered by most dental insurance plans, including Apple Health (Medicaid). Consult with your child’s dentist to learn more and create a sealant application plan for your child.

Healthy Equity Bite

CHC's Smile Check program provides no-cost dental screenings to local students

About 1,300 students at 8 Mukilteo District schools were provided oral health screenings by Community Health Centers of Snohomish County staff. Between September and December 2022, CHC’s Smile Check program offered children in grades K-6 quick oral exams to check for cavities, untreated decay, and the need for preventive dental care. During the effort, 19% of students screened were found to have urgent oral health needs, and emergent needs were found in 4.5% of students.

School-based oral care programs have been shown to be an effective method of reducing oral health disparities by reaching children who are at greater risk of dental decay. Read more about CHC’s efforts to improve oral health for children in Snohomish County here.

Dental Care Resource Bite

Oral Health Zines for Parents with Children 0-2

In honor of Children’s Oral Health Month, the Snohomish County Health Department and ABCD program created an oral health resource for parents of children 0-2. The zine (mini magazine) outlines the importance of keeping baby teeth healthy and offers tips for preventing cavities.

The zine was developed with support from the Snohomish County Dental Foundation and is now available in Vietnamese, Ukrainian, Russian, Spanish, Arabic, and English.

To order yours, send a request email to Children.DentalInfo@co.snohomish.wa.us.

ABCD Table at Toothapalooza

Community & Collaboration Bite

Toothapalooza

Thank you to the Imagine Children’s Museum and Snohomish County Dental Society for hosting the 17th annual Toothapalooza! Snohomish County’s ABCD program was there to give out oral health information, dental care resources, and kid-friendly giveaways.

Supporting Early Head Start Home Visitors

In late January, Dr. Sonu Lamba, owner of Stellar Kids Dentistry and ABCD Champion, met with Edmonds College Early Head Start (EHS) home visitors to share information about all things baby and maternal oral health. Home visitors were briefed on the 6 keys to infant oral health, and the event concluded with a discussion about how to incorporate this information into working with EHS clients during visits.

Pediatric Dentistry & Developmental Disabilities with the Arc of Snohomish

In February, the Arc of Snohomish invited members of their Parent to Parent group to meet with Snohomish County ABCD. Parent to Parent is a group for community members who are caregivers for children and adults with disabilities. During the virtual event, caregivers learned about the ABCD program in the context of dental access, and how ABCD-certified dentists are trained to serve children with disabilities. This was followed by a panel discussion, where caregivers shared stories of success at the dental office.

Community outreach and education are essential components of ABCD.
Are you looking for staff or client training on child and/or infant oral health? Don’t hesitate to reach out to the Snohomish County ABCD Coordinator at

Children.DentalInfo@co.snohomish.wa.us

Winter 2023