The San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department is launching a new effort to bring dental care to more children.
Through the virtual dental home program, a dental hygienist and care coordinator will visit local elementary schools to provide cleanings, X-rays, fluoride treatments, and sealants. They’ll also be able to send records electronically to a dentist who can provide additional treatment if necessary.
Health officials say few dentists accept Medi-Cal Dental benefits, so this program will help low-income children who may otherwise not see a dentist.
“We had about 12,000 children in our county that didn’t have access to dental care, so we’re hoping to have more providers join in giving care to children, especially in Medi-Cal dental services and we are trying to reach out to the community and offer services like virtual dental,” said Barb Morrow, Oral Health Program Manager for the San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department.
The program is reportedly funded by the state.
