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For Immediate Release
August 27, 2024
Contact: Elizabeth Goodsitt/Jennifer Miller 608-266-1683
DHS Announces Seal-A-Smile to Return for 25th Year
Successful program improves oral health by providing preventive dental services in schools statewide
As the 2024-2025 school year gets underway, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is marking the 25th year of its successful Wisconsin Seal-A-Smile program, which brings preventive dental services to children of all ages statewide. Led by DHS, in collaboration with the Children's Health Alliance of Wisconsin and Delta Dental of Wisconsin Foundation, the program provided care to more than 86,300 students during the 2023-2024 school year totaling an estimated $17,554,000 in dental services.
"Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease experienced during childhood," said Dr. Russell Dunkel, Wisconsin State Dental Director and DHS Chief Dental Officer. "Cavities not only cause pain and discomfort, which makes eating or concentrating in class difficult, but can impact a child's overall health. By brining preventive dental services to students at schools we are not only improving access to preventive dental care and teaching good oral hygiene habits, but we are reducing the time students spend away from the classroom and preventing life-long health concerns."
View the entire news release.
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