The Oral Health Program
The Oral Health Outreach Program delivers oral health education, support, and resources to all age groups across all demographics in all 9 counties on
The Oral Health Outreach Program delivers oral health education, support, and resources to all age groups across all demographics in all 9 counties on
“The Smile of a Lifetime Starts Now” is a teen HPV and Vaping Prevention.
DDA Oral Health Training Provided (live webinar format): One 2 hour presentation (2 CEU’s earned by attendees)
These meetings provide the platform for public health professionals to discuss their work in the community and where they could use help.
Maryland’s Eastern Shore with the primary goal of decreasing the rate of oral disease and improving the oral and overall health of at-risk populations in our communities.
For our earliest learners in the 0–7-year-old age group we offer the much loved and adored “Tooth Fairy’s Helper Program”, where program coordinator Mrs. Donohue-Vega dresses up as The Tooth Fairy’s Helper and uses puppets, marionettes and “Toothy Tunes” in which the lyrics of popular children’s songs have been changed to deliver the oral health message. The program is interactive and encourages our early learners to take part in the lesson. Every child in attendance receives a dental health kit, which includes a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, 2-
minute timer, sticker, brochures, and local dental clinic information.
Through education and providing oral hygiene products we aim to decrease the rate of oral disease amongst our youth, which we know will help to improve school attendance and academic performance in addition to having a direct benefit on the overall health of our youth population. The target population of this program is 0–7-year old’s at Library playgroups, Judy Centers, Head Start Programs and Title I schools.
Program to present the facts and inform teens of the risks associated with tobacco addiction and sexually transmitted infections as it relates to oral health.
Success Highlights: Victory in legislation with the passing of adult dental coverage for Medicare! Lastly, the program coordinator serves as an oral health liaison to an array of community partners that request oral health training of their staff. Through community partnerships we hope to increase awareness regarding the effects that oral disease has on overall health and what we can do to help others achieve oral health while improving quality of life
The DDA Oral Health Training Program is designed to provide trainings and CEUs for oral health professionals interested in continuing education opportunities.
Oral Health Outreach Coordinator Caitlin Donohue-Vega hosts a quarterly Oral Health Task Force Meeting as a networking opportunity for public health professionals and state delegates. These meetings provide the platform for public health professionals to discuss their work in the community and where they could use help. The state delegates help ensure that our voices are heard during the legislative process and with them we are able to achieve milestones that improve the oral and overall health of Marylanders, especially our most vulnerable populations.