Middlesex DA Marian Ryan Announces Oral Health Initiative

LOWELL – Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, Middlesex Community College, Regis College, Lowell Community Health Center and Lowell Public Schools announced a new partnership that will provide students with preventative oral hygiene care with the goal of improving the health and wellness of children. This initiative was launched by District Attorney Ryan based on research which shows that many children who have behavioral issues in school are suffering from poor oral health.

“Our job is to keep kids safe and to give them the resources to build resiliency, stay healthy and be present at school. We know that students can’t be at their best if they are suffering from a cavity, gum disease or other dental problems because of the lack of appropriate dental care. When a child has dental issues which cause them not to eat well, sleep well or be in pain during the day, they are going to have difficulties learning and behaving appropriately. What is worse is that these preventable problems can lead to truancy and juvenile delinquency. Interventions that address these problems are best begun during the elementary school years,” said District Attorney Marian Ryan.

“The dental hygiene program at MCC has always had a strong commitment to improving access to oral hygiene care for children in our community. It is so critical to children's educational outcomes, attendance and behavior that they are free of pain, and confident in their smile. Our partnership with the District Attorney's office, and our mutual commitment to health equity is allowing us to expand and enrich on our current community outreach program, broadening our reach and impact to improve oral health outcomes for children and families in greater Lowell,” said Karen Townsend, Director of Dental Hygiene Education at Middlesex Community College.

“Regis College is honored to partner with the District Attorney's Office on this important initiative,” said Antoinette Hays, PhD, RN at Regis College. “Opened in 2019, Regis College's Dental Center in Waltham not only provides our dental hygiene students with real world clinical experience, but also affordable oral health care to the community. I am thrilled we are able to bring that mission of education and service to other communities in the Commonwealth.”

As part of the program, dental students create lesson plans to bring dental health and wellness into the school curriculum to teach students to brush, floss and eat healthy.

In the Spring 2022 semester, Middlesex Community College and Regis College dental hygiene students will offer oral screening assessments and preventative services such as fluoride treatments and dental sealants to elementary school students. As part of the program, parents will receive information on how to sign their students up to have free or reduced-cost preventative dental work done at their school or local dental clinic.

The initiative is already underway in seven Lowell Public Schools with other communities already in discussion to bring it to their school districts.

“We are pleased to join with District Attorney Ryan and other community partners to improve access to oral health services for the youth in our community,” said Susan West Levine, CEO of Lowell Community Health Center. “At the health center, we are committed to addressing oral health is a key component of overall health and wellbeing. This program will allow us to reach more youth so that they can do their best, in and out of school. With an on-site dental center and two full-service, school-based health centers in Lowell, including at Lowell High School and Stoklosa Middle School, we are well positioned to reach children and teenagers who might otherwise lack access to oral health care. We are grateful to District Attorney Ryan for her commitment to advancing equitable access to care.”

“Access to education around a healthy mouth is critically important for kids,” said Teresa Soares-Pena, Principal at Bulter Middle School in Lowell. “For years we have been incorporating health and wellness into our curriculums and this program builds on that by not only demonstrating positive habits for students but also giving them the tools, like toothpaste and toothbrushes, to practice at home and to maintain good oral health.”

“With the use of vaping and other harmful drugs at younger ages on the rise, the need for oral care education and instruction to create healthy oral hygiene habits has grown,” District Attorney Ryan continued. “This program is providing true wrap-around services with early intervention that can impact the future for these children.”

Since the program's rollout this summer, 570 students have received interactive classroom education and 1,100 toothbrushes and oral health aides have already been distributed at Lowell Public Schools including Oral Health Newsletters in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Khmer.

Led by Maureen Strauss, MCC Dental Hygiene faculty member, Middlesex also was awarded the Give Kids a Smile Program from the American Dental Association to support the initiative. The department received supplies to provide sealants and home care supplies for 150 children, according to Townsend.

MCC’s Dental Hygiene department provides low-cost, comprehensive services for those who need it most. At a reduced-cost, members of the local community can receive direct patient care by students who have received extensive education and training, and have demonstrated competence in providing clinical services.

Fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, Middlesex prepares students to pass the exam and go on to pursue a career as a Dental Hygienist or transfer to a four-year college or university.

Part of the Health pathway, the Dental Hygiene program at MCC helps students go into – and succeed in – the workforce or transfer to four-year schools with its award-winning and affordable offerings, small class sizes and flexible schedules. For more information, visit https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/discover/dyp_health.aspx to discover a path to a career in Dental Hygiene at Middlesex.

Registration for MCC’s WinterSession and Spring 2022 semester – starting on Monday, January 3 and Monday, January 24 – are now open. Visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/registration/ or call 1-800-818-3434 for more information and to register for classes.

Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, MCC has been a proven leader in education for more than 50 years. Middlesex puts the student first. Meeting each learner where they are, MCC provides them with a safe, welcoming and engaging place to learn. Offering more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses – Middlesex features flexible course formats and a variety of award-winning student support services and resources. Student success starts at MCC!