School-based Sealant Programs | Comprehensive School-based Oral Health Program |
Oral Health Promotion Activities

Oral Health Promotion Programs

Boston University School of Dental Medicine (BUSDM) managed 65 additional oral health promotion programs for populations that have difficulties accessing oral health services including the homeless; financially disadvantaged, uninsured, and underinsured children and adults; elders; Head Start and Early Head Start participants; survivors of torture; refugees; and individuals with HIV.  Other programs were held to train students and non-dental health professionals in providing oral health services for disadvantaged populations.  Health fairs and similar events provided an opportunity to reach families from very diverse backgrounds and educational levels with oral health messages and oral screenings to assess and prevent oral disease.

During the school based community outreach activities, BUSDM has been responsible for providing oral health education for over 11,000 children in Boston and the surrounding areas.  Within the Boston Head Start Programs and Boston Public Schools, over 5,000 students received oral health education.  In the city of Chelsea, 3350 students received classroom education, and an additional 1900 children in Framingham, Lawrence, and Natick benefited from oral health education.  

BUSDM's Community Based Oral Health Programs:

• Blackstone Elementary School Field Trip:  For the seventh year, the Division of Community Health Programs (CHP) facilitated a field trip to BUSDM for third-grade students from the Blackstone Elementary School.  Over 85 students and teachers participated in an interactive PowerPoint discussion about dental health and healthy eating, and enjoyed creative dental activities in the Simulated Learning Center.  A nutritious lunch was provided and “goody bags” containing toothbrushes, floss, and other oral health related items were given out.  During this annual event, the children were “dental students for a day” and exposed to various career options in dentistry. 

• Boston University/Chelsea Partnership Dental Programs:  During the 2006-2007 school year, this program provided classroom oral health education to over 250 children enrolled in Head Start and to over 3100 students in pre-kindergarten through grade 6 in the Chelsea Public Schools.  Presentations included topics such as brushing and flossing, healthy eating, preventing injuries, dental anatomy, the decay process, and gingivitis and periodontal disease.  Dental screenings and referrals were also provided to over 2200 students who had parental permission. 

• Framingham Fluoride Varnish Program:  Funding for this program is included within the private grant funding for the SEAL Framingham Dental Sealant Program.  CHP presented dental health workshops to the staff at South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC) Framingham Head Start.  Dental screenings and fluoride varnish applications were provided for 151 preschoolers at SMOC.  During the 2006-2007 school year, this program expanded and now includes 3 public elementary schools.  Dental screenings and fluoride applications were provided to 290 kindergarten and grade 1 children.

• Give Kids A Smile at Yawkey Club:  The BUSDM chapter of the American Student Dental Association, under the guidance of CHP, organized a Give Kids a Smile event at the Yawkey Boys and Girls Club in Roxbury.  Approximately 100 children, ages 8 to 14, participated in oral health activities which were carried out at six interactive dental health stations, each dedicated to a different topic related to oral health, including oral hygiene, tooth protectors, healthy eating, smoking and oral piercing dangers, and dental careers.  Oral hygiene supplies and educational materials were given out.

• HIV Dental Care/Ryan White: Through support from the Ryan White Care Act, the Boston University School of Dental Medicine provides considerable treatment, which is mostly uncompensated, to patients with HIV and AIDS throughout New England.  A network for education referral has been established and includes Cambridge Cares About AIDS, Boston University Medical Center, and Provincetown AIDS Support Group, as well as others. 

• Sealant Coordination Center:  BUSDM serves as the Sealant Coordination Center (SCC) for Smart Smiles, an initiative which brought school-based sealant programs to 51 of Boston’s elementary schools.  The SCC provides the infrastructure to develop and evaluate this school based oral health sealant and referral program.

• Vietnamese-American Civic Association:  Students from the BUSDM Vietnamese Dental Student Association are engaged in ongoing community outreach projects to provide oral health education to the Vietnamese community.  These events include the following:
  
  

  1. A bilingual dental education presentation to 30 Vietnamese adults and elders occurred in August ’06, for the purpose of educating those in attendance on oral health and hygiene.  There were a lot of questions and discussion around this topic. 
     
     
  2. YMCA Wang Christmas Dental Awareness event for the purpose of educating children and parents about the importance of brushing and good dental hygiene.  Approximately 600 people were in attendance at this important event.
     
     
  3. Participation in the Tet festival, a Vietnamese New Year festival, which provided a great opportunity to provide oral health education to parents and children attending this fun and exciting event.

BUSDM’s Integration of Oral Health Into Other Community Based Programs:

• Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) Head Start and Early Head Start Oral Health Promotion Activities:   1) Early Head Start Oral Health Screenings:  Oral health screenings for children enrolled in three ABCD Early Head Start Centers located in Dorchester, East Boston, and the South End.   2)  The ABCD South Boston Head Start Health Advisory Committee is comprised of both parents and health professionals.  Throughout the school year, monthly workshops are offered to parents.  Dental health and healthy snacks is always a well attended, popular workshop that gives attendees information and tools to provide healthy snacks for their families.

• Archdale Village Unity Day:  In partnership with the Boston Public Housing Commission, CHP provided oral screenings and oral health education for 200 families at the Archdale Housing Development Fair in Roslindale.  Educational handouts, as dental care messages, samples of oral hygiene products, and stickers were given out.

• Associated Early Care and Education:  Associated Early Care and Education provides affordable childcare for infants, toddlers, and preschool children of working families in the greater Boston area.  CHP’s oral health program offers dental health education, oral screenings, and fluoride varnish applications to children, as well as staff and parent training at the Jamaica Plain, Sunnyside, Ruggles/Gilday, and Castle Square sites. 

• BMC Head and Neck Cancer Support Group:  This support group serves as an excellent setting to provide tailored oral health information to people recently diagnosed or undergoing head and neck radiation for cancer. 

• Boston Asthma Games:  In partnership with the Boston Public Health Commission Van and Asthma Program, CHP offered dental health information, education, and dental screenings to the approximately 100 children with asthma and their families participating in this annual event.  The Boston Asthma Games enables children with asthma to be physically active while learning to better treat and manage their asthma. The Asthma Health Project is an initiative of the Boston Public Health Commission and Children's Hospital in Boston.

• Boston Diabetes Expo:  BUSDM faculty and students provided free dental screenings and education at the American Diabetes Association’s Boston Diabetes Expo, an educational and entertaining event for people living with and affected by diabetes.  This was the fourth year BUSDM participated in this event, providing over 30 dental screenings and informing hundreds of the risks, prevention, and treatment of oral disease for those with diabetes.

• Boston Living Center Dental Presentation and Screenings:  CHP, in partnership with the Boston AIDS consortium, the HIV/AIDS Dental Work Group, and the Boston Public Health Commission, provided dental screenings at two sites for 16 people living with HIV/AIDS and facilitated access to much needed dental care.  This event provides people who are in great need of dental care an environment where they can ask about specific problems they are having and get immediate help with referrals and free care options. 

• Boston University Residence Life Wellness Fair, Charles River Campus:  CHP participated in the third Residence Life “Be Well” Fair.  The fair in Metcalf Hall, attended by over 300 students, featured a wide range of health and wellness activities and concepts.  Oral health promotion activities were geared to oral health issues faced by college students.

• Bowdoin Street Dental Screenings:  CHP collaborated with the BPHC van and the Bowdoin Street Community Health Center to assess and address the oral health needs of clients enrolled in the Diabetes Collaborative.  This activity served as a launching pad for increasing awareness of oral health and diabetes.

• Bowdoin Street In-Service Lunch & Learn:  At this event, CHP presented information on oral health and diabetes to the clinical staff at the Bowdoin Street Community Health Center, a participant in the Diabetes Collaborative.  Approximately 40 people from Bowdoin Street were in attendance at this informative PowerPoint presentation.

• Cancer Educational Event:  Participation in the BMC sponsored Cancer Educational Event provided an opportunity to raise awareness about oral health and overall health to an audience of informed, concerned, and educated consumers.

• Chelsea Early Childhood Project:  This program provides annual oral health education and screening for preschool aged children as part of the Chelsea Early Childhood Project, which supports children aged two to four in day care centers and private homes.  In March 2007, 268 children participated in this Project.            

• Chelsea Early Learning Center Open House:  Faculty and staff from the BU/Chelsea Partnership Dental Programs were invited to set up an information table at the Early Learning Center’s Open House for parents of children in grades pre-kindergarten and kindergarten.  Information was distributed to approximately 150 parents about the importance of early dental care and the availability of the Chelsea School Dental Center.  Children pretended they were dentists by checking the teeth of our dental puppet with a mirror and a pen light.  They were given stickers and coloring sheets to take home as well.

• Chelsea Head Start (CAPIC):  Dental education, screening, and fluoride varnish application were provided to over 260 Head Start students aged three to five enrolled in the CAPIC Head Start (Chelsea, Revere, Winthrop) Program. 

• Chelsea Head Start (CAPIC) Teacher and Advocate Meetings:  During the fall of ’06 CHP faculty provided oral health education, using a PowerPoint presentation for 21 Head Start teachers and family advocates.  Topics covered included the importance of primary teeth, the decay process, methods of prevention, and how to talk with parents about their child’s oral health.  These educational sessions helped CAPIC Head Start in Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop fulfill their federal requirements regarding teacher education.

• Chelsea Head Start (CAPIC) Parent Meetings:  Faculty provided oral health education to 35 parents of CAPIC Head Start students in Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop.  The focus of the PowerPoint presentation was on the importance of oral health in general and primary teeth in particular.

• Chelsea Intergenerational Literacy Program:  CHP staff provided oral health education to 91 adults who are learning to speak and write in English and provided 44 oral screenings and referral assistance for their children. 

• Chelsea Latino Education Group, Back to School Fair:  The Back to School Celebration was an event for parents and children before the start of the new school year to introduce parents to various programs and activities taking place in Chelsea.  Nearly 1,000 people were in attendance at this event.  CHP contributions included an information table regarding oral health, and educational materials, toothbrushes, and toothpaste were handed out. The event provided an opportunity for CHP to raise awareness among Chelsea residents of the Chelsea Dental Center.

• Colgate Bright Smiles/Bright Futures Program:  CHP participated once again in the Colgate Bright Smiles/Bright Futures Program.  The Bright Smiles/Bright Futures van has visited Boston annually since 1995 and provides dental screenings, oral health education, and a Colgate Oral Care kit free of charge to inner city children.  This October 2006 event served hundreds of children at two Dorchester locations.  It was upbeat, positive, and lots of fun.  Each child screened was given a report card describing the findings and recommendations.

• Countdown to Kindergarten:  An annual event, Countdown to Kindergarten prepares preschool children for entry into kindergarten in the Boston Public Schools.  CHP participated again this year in this celebration held at the Boston Children’s Museum.  With the assistance of BUSDM student volunteers, a wide range of age-appropriate dental health, nutrition, and art activities were offered to the hundreds of children and parents in attendance.  In addition, 45 children entering kindergarten received oral health screenings. 

• Crispus Attucks Children’s Center:  Oral health training was provided for Crispus Attucks staff, and oral screenings were completed for children new to the Crispus Attucks Center since August 2006.  Student volunteers from MCPHS Forsyth participated in the dental screenings. 

• Dever School Family Day:  The Dever Elementary School Family Day was a day of fun for the children and parents who went from room to room at the school participating in various activities such as face painting, kite decorating, reading, straw hat decorating to visits from the fire and sheriff’s departments.  Approximately 90 families were expected to attend.  Around 60 kids visited the dental table.  They played the dental roulette and received a toothbrush, toothpaste and sticker just for playing.  They also enjoyed brushing the animal puppet’s teeth and flossing Mr. Big Mouth.  CHP contributed to their dental knowledge and also offered dental activity sheets to the young children. 

• E. Greenwood School Health and Safety Fair:  For the second year, CHP participated in the E. Greenwood School Health and Safety Fair, one of the Boston area schools receiving Smart Smiles services.  This was a great opportunity to extend the program’s education to children in grades other than grades 2 and 3.  Children were provided education and activities related to good oral hygiene and healthy eating; and toothbrushes, stickers, and information about dental insurance, the Smart Smiles program, oral hygiene, and nutrition were give out. 

• Face to Face Open House for BPS:  Face to Face and the Home for Little Wanderers sponsored a BPS Open House at the Knight Children’s Center gym in Jamaica Plain on Tuesday, September 19.  The purpose of the open house was to provide an opportunity to ask questions and get questions answered about the Boston Public Schools from various education specialists; outreach specialists; school, family, and community specialists; transportation representatives; and others.  Among those in attendance were Countdown to Kindergarten, AP and Advanced Work Class Programs, the Boston Full Service Schools Roundtable, family and community outreach coordinators, Supplemental Educational Services, and Title I among many others.

• Framingham Early Childhood Fair:  For the second consecutive year, CHP attended this annual Framingham fair.  The event is sponsored by a Framingham partnership designed to introduce families with children to the variety of educational, health, and recreational resources available.  CHP provided oral health education information and promoted oral health awareness for the Framingham Fluoride Program and the SEAL Framingham Dental Sealant Programs.

• Framingham Healthy Kids Day:  Approximately 300 adults and children attended the Healthy Kids’ Day event held at the MetroWest YMCA in Framingham.  CHP provided dental health and nutrition information to families using display boards, an animal puppet, educational handouts, and activity sheets. 

• Healing the Children:  Since 1993, faculty from the Goldman School of Dental Medicine’s Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery have traveled to South American countries to provide direct care to more than 100 children annually. This work is done in affiliation with Healing the Children NE, Inc.-Missions Abroad, a charitable organization. The School’s faculty donates their time and expertise to this program.

• Health Careers Academy Community Health Fair:  CHP was invited to promote healthy nutrition habits and good oral hygiene and provide nutrition education materials to teens and young adults at the Health Careers Academy, “Take the Orange Line to Better Health,” community health fair at Ruggles Station in Boston.  Approximately 100 people attended this outdoor health fair and several dental screenings were provided along with information on how to access dental care. 

• Healthy Baby Healthy Child (HB/HC) Oral Health Promotion Program:  CHP developed a model of oral health promotion aimed at preventing early childhood caries (rather than treating the disease after it occurs) that targets high risk, pregnant women and their children, particularly those living in communities that are disproportionately impacted by infant mortality and other health disparities.  As part of the intervention, CHP faculty trained new visiting nurses to carry out simple oral health assessments, provide oral health education to their clients, and deliver oral health workshops for the larger community of public housing residents.  In addition, personnel facilitated referrals for dental care as needed.  To date, 143 families have benefited from this program.

• Healthy Baby/Healthy Child Summer Camp Picnic:  For the fourth consecutive year, CHP in collaboration with the Boston Public Health Commission participated in the Healthy Baby/Healthy Child two day (initial and final day) summer camp picnic activities at Franklin Park.  Oral health education, including an oral hygiene workshop on day one, dental fun activities, and oral health screenings were offered to the 50 people attending these camp picnic events. 

• Healthy Teeth for Tots:  CHP continues to partner with Dorchester House Multi-Service Center to develop a model program with the goal of decreasing the prevalence of ECC and increasing the number of children receiving preventive and restorative dental services by creating a seamless collaboration between pediatricians and dental providers within the community health center.  To date, the program has implemented pediatrician administered caries risk assessment, oral health education, and fluoride varnish applications.

• Hurley School Health Fair and Open House:  CHP was invited to participate in the Hurley School Health Fair and Open House.  Staff with Smart Smiles gave out dental education materials, oral hygiene supplies, dental insurance information, and printed materials about the Smart Smiles program.  This fun and informative event took place at the Hurley School gymnasium on October 4th, and about 200 adults and children were in attendance. 

• March of Dimes, Third Annual Prematurity Summit:  The symposium presentation provided over 30 non-dental health providers with information about the association of oral health and prematurity, as well as how to decrease early childhood caries risk factors.  In addition, over 300 non-dental health providers were provided with handouts and information on oral health and systemic health.

• Martha Elliot Community Health Fair:  For the seventh consecutive year, in partnership with the Boston Public Health Commission, CHP provided oral screenings, dental health education, and hygiene supplies to health fair participants.  This Health Fair was attended by 1500 families and held at the Martha Elliot Health Center in Jamaica Plain.  Oral health promotion activities included face and arm painting and an arts and craft project centered on a dental health theme.

• Massachusetts State House Health Fair:  Sponsored by the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, CHP in collaboration with Delta Dental of Massachusetts provided oral health information, demonstrations, and oral cancer screenings for all interested attendees.  CHP had the opportunity to integrate oral health screening with other health screening and testing such as cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index, bone density and skin wellness.  In addition, attendees were able to learn more about health plans’ disease management, tobacco cessation, and health coaching programs.

• MGH Chelsea Summer Safety Fair and Bike Rodeo:  The MGH Chelsea Health Center’s Summer Safety Fair is an annual event held in June with this year’s attendance numbering approximately 350 children and adults.  The event focuses on keeping children safe during the summer months.  Children bring their bicycles for safety checks and receive free bike helmets.  A large number of agencies participate including the Chelsea Police Department and WIC.  CHP staff provides information about the use of mouth guards, distributes information about the importance of dental visits, and invites children to receive dental care at the Chelsea School Dental Center.

• Open Doors to Health:  CHP joined efforts with Open Doors to Health, a program sponsored by the Dana Farber Colon Cancer Prevention Program and participated in a health fair at Academy Homes I in Boston.  CHP presented a wide range of oral health information in both English and Spanish and provided dental screenings as well as fun interactive dental health related activities for kids.

• Oral Health Equity Project (OHEP):  In the fourth year of this program, preventative services were brought to 29 residents of two public housing sites, Lower Mills and Peterborough, with the goal of expanding access and improving the oral health of elders and young disabled individuals residing in subsidized housing by offering oral health education, oral screenings, fluoride varnish application, denture labeling, referrals, and case management.

• Orchard Garden Middle School Health Fair:  This health fair for middle school children was attended by approximately 250 students and staff and included a PowerPoint presentation and free oral hygiene samples.

• Outreach Van Project:  The Outreach Van is a student-run project run from within the BU School of Medicine in which faculty and students go out one evening per week to East Boston to conduct free screenings and distribute clothing and other basic necessities to approximately 20 to 30 people weekly during the colder months and 65-75 people weekly when the weather is warmer.  A DMD ’07 student two years ago initiated the addition of oral cancer screenings to the Van services, and this past year another BUSDM student recruited Dr. Spencer Kemp, Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Department, to teach volunteers to perform oral pathology screenings.  CHP provides dental supplies for distribution to the many people served through this Program.

• Partners for Rural Health in the Dominican Republic:  A service learning program for nursing students that delivers community health services and education to remote villages in the Dominican Republic bi-annually in January and July.  The program partners with Caritas, Dominican physicians, Dominican community volunteers, Peace Corp, volunteer medical providers, and the Ministry of Health.  Susan Cote, CHP instructor, integrates oral health into the medical component.  Oral health education and outreach activities are provided in the communities by dental, dental hygiene, public health, and nursing students.  In both July ’06 and January ’07, the medical teams applied fluoride varnish to approximately 300 children, and during the January trip, a school-based dental program was implemented by the dental team which provided screenings, fluoride, and referrals for about 150 children in two schools. Children were referred to Pequenos Pasitos, a Maternal and Child Health Clinic for emergency care and preventive dental sealants.  The opportunity to participate in this learning experience is a fulfilling and rewarding experience as it changes their whole perspective of caring for patients.

• Research Science Institute:  Since 1994, the Goldman School of Dental Medicine has been a participant in the Research Science Institute, a four-week summer program for high school students. The program is sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Education in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  The students complete hands-on research guided by selected mentors at corporations, universities, and organizations.  Many RSI students use their RSI research projects as a basis to participate in scientific competitions, such as the Intel Science Talent Search, the Siemens-Westinghouse Science and Technology Competition, and the All-USA High School Academic Scholarship.

• Rosie’s Place Wellness Fair:  BUSDM has a long-standing program that enables the women affiliated with Rosie’s Place to get free basic dental care.  For the sixth year, CHP participated in Rosie’s Place Wellness Fair, providing dental health education and screening as a way to link homeless and battered women in need of care with free oral health services.  In addition, in November ‘06 the Vietnamese Dental Student Association collected and distributed to Rosie’s Place a variety of women’s winter clothing and accessories, including scarves, hats, gloves, and socks.

• SMOC Framingham Head Start Parent Workshops:  Workshops were held on two dates for parents of children enrolled in Head Start to increase awareness of health and community services available to them in the Framingham area.  CHP provided dental and nutrition information, including discussion about dental care access, to approximately 50 families, addressing the needs of many Portuguese-speaking and Spanish-speaking parents in Framingham. 

• Summer Activities in Learning - Health Initiative (SAIL-HI):  For the sixth year, CHP partnered with the Woodrow Wilson Community School in Framingham to implement SAIL-HI, a four week summer camp for 100 underserved elementary school children.  Through the camp curriculum, at least one day each week is devoted to oral health education.  Over the years, CHP’s involvement with the program has grown.  Presently, the oral health component not only provides interactive oral health presentations but also dental screenings and referrals.

• Survivors of Torture Oral Health Program:  CHP has collaborated with the Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights (BCRHHR) since 1999 to assess and address the oral health needs of torture survivors through the Survivors of Torture Oral Health Program.   Fifty seven patients received oral health education, dental screenings and referrals, and dental home-care products. 

• University of Massachusetts, Harbor Point, Student Wellness Fair:  This annual health fair was carried out in collaboration with Health Services at the University of Massachusetts at Boston.  This event, attended by approximately 75 students, provided students a variety of health and wellness materials, including dental health information by CHP using flipcharts, educational boards, dental hygiene samples, and printed information of interest to students.  Two BUSDM students utilized this event for their public health project which included surveying students about their personal oral health, answering questions concerning oral health and access to care, performing oral health screenings for interested students, and preparing a brochure to give out at a later date that answers many of the most commonly asked questions and concerns of college students. 

• Vietnamese New Year’s Festival:  The Tet Festival is a Vietnamese New Year Festival, celebrated this year at the Bayside Expo Center in Boston.  Approximately 5000 people attended this event.  Given the large number of attendees, this event provided a good opportunity to educate people on dental hygiene and care.  Printed educational materials were passed out and discussed with those interested.  The use of the dental puppet and the large toothbrush attracted a lot of children to the dental table.

• Winthrop School Health Fair:  This outdoor health fair provided an opportunity for CHP faculty, with help from Forsyth and BU pre-dent students, to talk with families about good oral hygiene and nutrition, offer oral screenings, and treat the children to face painting.  Approximately 50 adults and children came to the CHP tables and were engaged in discussion about oral health issues, given educational materials, and offered screenings and a fun art activity.  A great time was had by all!

• Whittier Street Unity Day Fair:  In partnership with the Boston Public Housing Commission, CHP offered oral screenings and oral health education for 200 families at the Whittier Street Housing Development Fair in Boston.  Educational handouts, as dental care messages, samples of oral hygiene products, and stickers were given out.

• Healthy Eating and Oral Health: A nutrition and oral health presentation and pizza party was given to grade school through high school students at the Acre Youth Center in Lowell, Massachusetts, to celebrate the completion of the students’ goodie bag making project for CHP and fund raiser for the Youth Center. 

• Children’s Oral Health:  Corinna Culler presented a lecture to a class of students at the Chelsea Soldier’s Home, School of Practical Nursing on children’s oral health.  Thirty-three students attended the session, which included a discussion of the importance of “baby” teeth and how oral hygiene, fluoride use, and diet influence decay and its prevention.

• Massachusetts Head Start Health and Nutrition Quarterly Meeting:  Corinna Culler spoke about the oral health of preschoolers at a meeting for the Massachusetts Head Start Health Coordinators and Nutritionists, held in Worcester.  Thirty-five individuals attended.  Topics included early childhood caries, the importance of primary teeth, caries prevention, and tips for speaking to parents about oral health.  The meeting was arranged in response to recent Federal Head Start regulations that require Head Start providers to focus more intently upon the oral health of the preschoolers they serve.

• Oral Health for Seniors:  Cindy Cadoret presented “Oral Health for Seniors,” a PowerPoint presentation with an emphasis on oral health issues commonly faced by elders, to residents of Stow at the Stow Council on Aging.  The presentation was followed by an interactive group discussion focused on the needs of elders in the Stow community.  Eight senior citizens attended the event.  A healthy snack was served and oral hygiene samples were given out.

• Oral Health for University of Southern Maine Nursing Students:  Susan Cote presented, “Oral Health Assessment and Fluoride Varnish Application for Medical Providers,” an educational oral health presentation and demonstration on how to incorporate an oral health assessment into the medical assessment, to the nursing students involved in the Outreach in the Dominican Republic in July 2007. 

• Oral Health Field Experience for Northeastern Nursing Students:  Kathy Lituri gave a PowerPoint presentation on oral health issues from a public health perspective to nursing students studying at Northeastern University.  The presentation was followed by a tour of the dental school.