Free Dental Screenings at Utah County Health Department

In honor of National Dental Health Month, the Utah County Health Department is partnering with several local agencies to provide free dental screenings at the Tuesday evening Volunteer Care Clinic.

The oral health screenings will make an assessment of all patients that come to the Volunteer Care Clinic Tuesday evenings in February. Adults will be assessed, and when applicable, be given referrals to local dentists that provide low or no cost treatment.

Children up to age 13 will also be assessed, but they will also be given (with parental consent) a fluoride varnish to help protect their teeth. They will also be able to participate in a coloring contest for prizes from local merchants (including: Carl's Jr., Ideal Machines, and McDonalds) and be given free dental kits (including a tooth brush, cover, tooth paste, dental floss, timer, stickers, and other items) and free fluoride prescription.

"This is mostly for the kids," said Jackie Evans-Black, UCHD nursing bureau director. "Early dental care is very important to life long oral health. This gives those with little or no means an opportunity to be assessed and have a referral for treatment if necessary."

"We will also be having volunteers educating the children and their parents while they are waiting to be seen," said Evans-Black. "There will be puppet shows and demonstrations on good oral habits as well as good eating habits."

The UCHD is partnering with the Volunteer Care Clinic, the Utah College of Dental Hygiene, and Community Health Connect for this effort.

The Volunteer Care Clinic (which sees individuals and families at or below the poverty line) will be the site of the dental screenings each Tuesday evening in February. The clinic, which is open from 5 to 7pm, is a joint-effort between the UCHD, the United Way of Utah County, Intermountain Healthcare, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is held at the Utah County Health and Justice Building at 151 South University Avenue in Provo in room 1709. Patients are seen by volunteer medical care providers on a first come / first served basis.



Monica Alexendro Cardodo Alven of Alpine (right) and Alexis Nicola Celedon (left)of Provo have a fluoride varnish applied by Chelsea Pettey from the Utah College of Dental Hygiene to help protect their teeth. The Utah County Health Department with other partners hosted a free dental health screening in honor of Dental Health Month.

For questions about the Free Dental Screenings, please call 851-7045. For questions on the Volunteer Care Clinic, call 812-8094. The Utah County Health Department seeks to prevent avoidable disease and injury, and promote health by monitoring the health of our community, and assuring conditions in which people can be healthy.



"Mr. Happy Tooth" was on hand at the Utah County Health Departments (UCHD) free dental screening to teach children about good oral health. He is joined by Adan (13), Raymundo (11) and Andrew (4) Yazzie, who also received dental screenings, fluoride varnish, and a dental prize packet. The UCHD will hold one more screening Tuesday, February 28th from 5 to 7pm at the Health and Justice Building at 151 S University Ave in Provo.