Champaign-Urbana Public Health District to Provide Much Needed Dental Services for Local Infants
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 17, 2008
Contact
Alicia Ekhoff, Program Coordinator
(217) 531-4538
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District to Provide Much Needed Dental Services for Local Infants
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District to Hold Special Walk-In Dental Clinics for Champaign County Infants
Champaign, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) will be holding special infant (ages 0-35 months) dental clinics on December 18 & 19, 2008 and January 28 & 29, 2009. Clinics will be held from 1:00pm – 4:00pm on a walk-in basis at 201 West Kenyon Road in Champaign. CUPHD Dental in collaboration with the CUPHD Division of Maternal and Child Health will provide Infant Oral Education, Infant Oral Health Evaluations, and Fluoride Varnish Treatments for Champaign County children age 0-35 months with moderate to high risk factors for developing Early Childhood Caries (decay). Infant clinics are available for all children in Champaign County with All Kids or Medicaid.
This new collaboration will utilize a “lap-to-lap” approach, where the infant will rest in the lap of the parent while a Registered Dental Hygienist provides an oral health screening and oral health training. Not only will the parents receive “hands on” training for the care of their infant’s teeth, but they will also receive a FREE infant or toddler toothbrush to help them care for their child’s teeth along with a booklet about how to keep their child’s teeth healthy. Appointments are not necessary; however, a parent or legal guardian must accompany their child and bring the child’s current All Kids or Medicaid card.
CUPHD plans to continue the infant dental clinic beyond the posted January dates. Infant dental clinics will be available two afternoons each month on a walk-in basis. This program will be available in CUPHD Dental located in the main lobby of CUPHD to the right of the CUPHD check-in desk. Parents are encouraged to take advantage of this and many other CUPHD dental programs when visiting CUPHD for other programs.
“Oral health is a good indicator of a child’s overall health,” said Alicia Ekhoff, Dental Program Coordinator for CUPHD. “Many diseases and deficiencies can be readily identified through a routine oral health screening. Simple daily attention to oral health will produce a healthy body as well as a healthy smile!”
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District’s Dental Division offers general dental care to children age 3-18 who live in Champaign or Urbana at their location at 201 West Kenyon Road in Champaign. Children age 18 must still be enrolled in the Champaign or Urbana school districts. Appointments are available Monday thru Friday; 8:00am – 4:00pm by calling 217-531-4279. Children enrolled in the Urbana School District may also be seen at the Urbana School Health Center located in the Urbana High School. Appointments are available Monday thru Friday; 8:00am – 4:00pm by calling 217-239-4220.
For more information on the CUPHD dental program or any other CUPHD service or program please contact CUPHD at (217) 352-7961 or visit CUPHD on the web at www.c-uphd.org.
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