BELTON, Mo., (Jun 4, 2024) – Cass Community Health Foundation provided free dental screenings and teledentistry services to Cass County and Grandview schools during the 2023-2024 academic year. Both programs are school based with 6,726 students receiving free screenings and 241 students benefiting from the teledentistry program.
“Our presence in schools is as important as ever as we work to raise the funds needed for our capital campaign and the future home of Cass County Dental Clinic,” Cynthia Randazzo, Cass Community Health Foundation president and CEO said. “The new Cass County Dental Clinic building in Belton will provide expanded access to students we encounter at free dental screenings and during teledentistry appointments. We deeply value the partnership we share with community schools. When our new clinic opens, we will continue to serve as a dental home for their students.”
The dental screenings were offered to students in all 10 of the Cass County school districts and the Grandview school district. Among the 6,726 screened, 25% had untreated cavities. The foundation worked with school nurses to help coordinate follow-up dental care. Students who were insured by Missouri Medicaid or uninsured and lacked access to dental care were referred to the foundation’s safety net dental clinic, Cass County Dental Clinic.
Cass Community Health Foundation recruited 141 volunteers to help complete the screenings, which totaled 975 hours of volunteer time. Local dentists Dr. David Merello of Lee’s Summit, Dr. Spencer Mulleanux of Celebrate Dental in Grandview, Dr. Terry Myers and Dr. Luxi Swisher of Keystone Dentistry in Belton, Dr. Shera Sims of World of Smiles in Harrisonville, Dr. Rob Tait of Grandview, and Dr. Chad Wassink of Custom Dental of Harrisonville volunteered their time to assist at the screenings. Concorde Career College’s dental hygiene program, the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s (UMKC) dental hygiene program, and several community members also volunteered.
The screenings, completed in partnership with the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services-Office of Dental Health, also include oral health education, oral hygiene supplies, and two free fluoride varnish treatments for children with parental consent. During the 2023-2024 screenings, 55% of students received fluoride varnish applications.
With funding from Truman Heartland Community Foundation, Cass Community Health Foundation and staff members at its safety net dental clinic, Cass County Dental Clinic, provided the teledentistry services for eligible students in Archie, Belton, Drexel, Grandview, and Harrisonville school districts.
Staff members of the clinic visit the schools to provide cleaning and preventive services. They also capture photos and x-rays for clinic dentists to diagnose cavities and develop treatment plans. These services make dental care more convenient for families, allowing Cass Community Health Foundation and Cass County Dental Clinic to expand access to improved oral health.
Visit casscommunityhealth.org for more information about the dental screening and teledentistry programs.
