February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, making it the perfect time to highlight the incredible work happening through our Northern Mobile Dental Program.
Last fall, our mobile dental team traveled to 13 elementary and combined schools across the Elko County School District: W. Wendover Elementary, Spring Creek Elementary, Grammar #2, Sage Elementary, Montello Combined, Northside, Liberty Peak, Carlin Combined, Jackpot Combined, Wells Combined, Owyhee Combined, Mountain View, and Southside.
The results reflect both need and impact.
During fall visits:
- 227 new students received dental screenings
- 166 students were identified as needing sealants
- 153 students received sealants
- 500 sealants were placed
- 195 fluoride treatments were completed
- 118 established students received retention checks from the previous year
In the spring:
- 371 sealants were placed
- 358 sealants were retained
- A 96% success rate on sealant retention
That 96% retention rate demonstrates not only the effectiveness of dental sealants but the quality and consistency of care provided by our team. Sealants are a simple, painless preventive measure that protects children’s permanent molars at a critical stage of development. For many of these students, this is care they might not otherwise receive due to transportation, cost, or access barriers.
Our mobile efforts work hand-in-hand with services available at Elko Family Medical & Dental Center, helping ensure continuity of care when additional treatment is needed.
Children’s Dental Health Month is about prevention, education, and access. In rural Nevada, our mobile dental unit brings all three directly to schools, protecting hundreds of smiles and building healthier futures for the communities we serve.
To our dental team and everyone who supports these visits behind the scenes: thank you for making this work possible.