A Certified School Dental Hygienist's duties include:

• Performs the Pennsylvania State mandated dental screenings.
• Organizes and operates the school fluoride supplement  & dental sealant program.
• Provides classroom dental health education grades k-8.
• With parental permission, provides preventative services to students within the school setting to  include dental cleaning, fluoride varnish treatments, dental sealants, silver diamine fluoride treatment.
• Acts as a liaison to link families with community dental health professionals and resources for dental care.

What preparation does a certified school dental hygienist need?

• A Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) license to practice dental hygiene. This license is granted by the Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry.
• A baccalaureate or master degree from an accredited college or university.
• School Dental Hygienist Certification through the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
• A Public Health Dental Hygiene Practitioner license to perform preventive services.

Who is the West Shore School District's dental hygienist?

The District dental hygienist is Ms. Donna Murray, RDH, CSDH, MSDH, PHDHP, CDIPC (d[email protected]).

• All children should see the dentist with the eruption of 1^st tooth or by age one?
• Children with disabilities often have other health impairments which put them at a higher risk of dental problems. Therefore, may need to see a dentist more often than every six months.
• Poor oral health impacts diabetes, heart health, and auto immune diseases like celiac, lupus
• Poor oral health impacts school performance
• Poor oral health impacts confidence and mental health
• The inverse is also true. For example, respiratory diseases like asthma increases risk of cavities