Smile Saver Services

In 2006 Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services (HCPHES) Dental Health and Prevention Services (DHP) provided assistance to over 276 schools located in 16 school districts outside of the Houston Independent School District (Houston ISD is within the health oversight of the City of Houston   Department of Health and Human Services).

These school districts each received several "Smile Saver Containers," which provided dental prevention education materials, loaned educational video tapes, activity sheets and pamphlets. Toothbrushes and/or dental floss were provided for at least one grade level of students in each school supported. Additionally, each school was visited by one of our dental prevention education specialists to provide consultation on the development of their respective dental prevention education programs and assist with special programs.

Dental services were also provided to HCPHES clinic patients through the maternity and well child clinic programs. The dental prevention education team also supported dental screenings and dental survey activities.  

 HCPHES Dental Health and Prevention Services works to promote and coordinate an effective array of dental prevention education activities at the schools. We believe that the keys to long term success are: