The nonprofit Fund for Public Education and Teton County School District No. 1 launched the new program “Love Your Teeth” in February to coincide with National Children’s Dental Health Awareness Month. The program moved ahead under the leadership of the public school system’s Lead Nurse Esther Ellis.

“School nurses look at the child as a whole when it comes to their health,” Ellis said. “If a student cannot eat properly because their mouth is in pain, they cannot learn.”

The program is supported through professional volunteers such as Cloetta, who is now retired from Cloetta Dental. Other providers include Holly Schumacher with Jackson Family Dentistry, Summer Owens and Carol Owens with Owens Family Dentistry, Catherine Tebay with Teton Dental Arts, Grant Kollenborn with Cloetta Dental and Mary Ellen Evolo, who is in private practice.

“When they reached out to me, I signed up right away,” said Dr. Grant Kollenborn, who recently took over Cloetta Dental. “I have kids of my own and know the importance of getting kids in early to avoid dental anxiety.”

Dr. Kollenborn said helping a student who has never been to the dentist feel relaxed and empowered with information before a dental exam is an immeasurable gift that will last a lifetime.

Lack of access to affordable dental care is one of the biggest wellness challenges that families face, particularly in Wyoming where the state does not fund dental screenings for public school students.

Jack Glasbrenner, the program and operations manager for Fund for Public Education, said the nonprofit jumped at Ellis’ idea to give parents an opt-in option for dental screenings. Additionally, the Love Your Teeth program offers a comprehensive dental care curriculum for students in kindergarten through fifth grade, serving all the elementary schools in the district. The program has the potential to reach 3,000 students.

“We’re hopeful that this will be a sustainable program and that in the next five years we see a decrease in dental needs once we get some data sets,” Glasbrenner said.

Enlisting a small army of dental professionals in the valley, the program not only aims to screen for dental troubles but hopes to give students who need dental care just that.

“When the parents receive the dental screening, we ask if they have insurance or Medicaid,” Glasbrenner said. “And if they are in financial need they may apply for a grant through the Love Your Teeth program. Our dental providers will help those students in need. It was amazing how many community members stepped up and offered their services.”

Dr. Cloetta was one of the first dentists to conduct the screening at Colter Elementary School in Jackson. The Fund for Public Education purchased not only the costumes but provided equipment such as small mirrors to view back molars, toothbrushes, paste, and brought in elevated chairs so the professionals didn’t have to bend down all day to peer into little mouths. Such details, said Dr. Cloetta, made the day a huge success.

Dr. Cloetta added that she noted tooth decay in some students, more than she would have liked to have seen.

According to the Pew Charitable Trust, tooth decay remains the most prevalent chronic disease in children, even though it is largely preventable.

And according to the Centers for Disease Control, in Wyoming more than half of children aged 6 to 8 will have had a cavity in at least one of their primary teeth. Additionally, children 5 to 19 years from low-income families are 25% more likely to have cavities, compared with children from higher-income households.

“We know that good oral health is essential for the physical, emotional, and social wellbeing of kids, and yet too many families in our community either can’t afford or can’t access care,” said Jennifer Jellen, the executive director for the Fund for Public Education. “This program addresses that specific need by ensuring that kids receive the help they need for long-term wellness.”

Funding is provided through a grant awarded by the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole and local donors. To learn more about this program, or to support Teton County’s Public Schools, visit FundForPublicEducation.org.