Oral Health service efforts focus on reducing tooth decay by providing: preventive services to at-risk groups; dental screening, referral and follow-up of children needing care; and dental health education.  Specific activities provided by Oral Health staff include:

-Providing dental screenings for school children, referring children for dental care, and working with families to help them obtain care

-Encouraging and helping communities seeking to install or upgrade fluoridation systems

-Providing dental sealants for elementary schoolchildren at high risk for developing tooth decay

-Offering a weekly fluoride mouthrinse to children in targeted high risk elementary schools

-Preventing tooth decay in very young children by training and supporting physicians and local health department to provide dental preventive care

-Providing education about tooth decay and oral health in elementary schools and community settings

-Providing consultation and technical assistance to local public and private health care providers

-Providing American Dental Association-accredited specialty training to masters level dentists seeking experience or certification in dental public health

-Tracking changes in child oral health status over time, compiling annual screening findings into a database, which is made available to the public each year

Services are provided directly in the communities.  The general population of North Carolina benefits from this service. The emphasis is on children at high risk of tooth decay. No other public or private group provides these services across the state.