FAQ's about the Tooth Tutor Program /Resources for Parents
-
Smile Vermont
What is the Tooth Tutor Program?
Vermont’s Tooth Tutor program is a school-based program designed to ensure that every child has access to preventive, restorative and continuing care in a dental office, or “dental home.”
The concept of having a dental home is fairly new. A dental home is a source for ongoing dental care, as well as a place you can turn to with dental questions or in cases of emergency.
The Tooth Tutor helps
to identify children in a school who do not have
access to regular dental care, and to help families
gain access to dental services in their community.
The Tooth Tutor can also provide a free dental screening
upon request. In addition, the Tooth Tutor program
provides a curriculum so that all the students can
benefit from the dental health education provided
by the Tooth Tutor.
How does the Tooth Tutor Program work?
The Tooth Tutor focuses on connecting children without dental homes to a dentist in their community. The Tooth Tutor acts as a liaison between the families and the community dentists.
The Tooth Tutor helps
to troubleshoot barriers to dental care with families
such as transportation, literacy, finances, or lack
of information. He or she also works with the dental
offices, educating them about the barriers that
these families face, and helping to make it easier
for appointments to be kept.
What
Schools are participating in the Tooth Tutor Program?
There are currently 45 Tooth Tutors working in 122 schools across Vermont.
I am a community member interested in having a Tooth Tutor Program in my school. What should I do?
Please
contact the Vermont Department of Health, Office
of Oral Health at 1-802-863-7341. You should also
contact the Principal or School Nurse.