Health care
BY ROO MOODY
The program primarily focuses on second graders because that is when permanent molars erupt.
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170 Heights Blvd., Houston www.houstonhealthfoundation.org
Approximately 177,000 students have received dental sealants through Project Saving Smiles.
PHOTOS BY ROO MOODY COMMUNITY IMPACT
Local partnership provides 100,000 free dental screenings Founded in 2010, the Houston Health Foundation was created to partner with the Houston Health Department to serve vulnerable individuals in the community. Robin Mansur, CEO and president of the foundation, said it was Dr. Teresita Ladrillo at the health department who founded the nonpro t
Houston Heights. “[A] toothache is one of the leading reasons for absences for missing school,” Mansur said. “We don’t have to connect the dots very hard to realize that the health of children has an impact on their ability to run, their academic success and their sense of self-con dence.” The local impact Once a child is screened, the dental technician can apply a dental sealant and uoride varnish to prevent cavities from forming. “Sometimes it’s just a matter of getting the children to the right place for a simple intervention that can have a life-long impact,” Mansur said.
after realizing public dollars were insu cient to address the community’s needs. About the program The foundation has ve core health and wellness initiatives, including one for students called Project Saving Smiles. Primarily focusing on second graders, Project Saving Smiles is a partnership between the founda- tion and the health department to assess students’ oral health and provide oral education. The program has worked with more than 200 schools in the Houston area and has completed over 100,000 dental screenings, which are held at the school or at the department’s clinic in the
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BELLAIRE MEYERLAND WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION
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