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Dare County Department of Public Health |
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Welcome to the Dare County Department of Public
Health Miles of Smiles is a program of the Dare County Department of Public Health. At this site, we would like to tell you a little about the program and its goals. Our History… Through a grant from the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust and funds from the Dare County Health Department, a new mobile dental van has been placed in service. Our new van contains two, fully equipped modern dental treatment rooms, and reception and sterilization areas. The van will park at Dare and Hyde County schools to eliminate transportation problems for you and your children.
A look inside the van
Our Mission… To serve the needs of children in Dare and Hyde counties who have no other access to dental care. To treat your child as our own child with respect and a careful and gentle approach. To do our very best in making each and every dental visit a positive and pleasant experience. To enable every parent to become a partner with us in fostering good dental health habits for their children. To educate the community about how most dental disease can be avoided with proper prevention! Our Methods…
We firmly believe that if a child’s first few visits to the dentist are made in an upbeat and fun environment, they will develop a positive attitude about dentistry for the rest of their lives. Therefore, we like our initial visit to be just for cleanings and checkups if possible. We use a "show-tell-do" method with our instruments and procedures in an age-appropriate way. This creates an enjoyable and happy experience. We find that this also makes subsequent appointments for treatments much more acceptable and calmer for the child. Each child needs to be approached in their own unique way and we strive to always be skillful and encouraging in our methods. We use praise as our patient motivator and the vast majority of our patients are very proud of their "job well done". Parents can help prepare their children for successful dental appointments by being calm and reassuring about the dental visit. Do not use scary words like hurt, pain, shot, needle, drill or pull. Healthcare is a normal part of life and the attitude you present to your child can make all the difference. Relaxed parents promote relaxed children! Some children, because of age, severe needs, or inability to cooperate, will require the care of a Pediatric Dentist and we will do our best to try and have that child referred.
Our Services…
Our routine services will include examinations, cleanings, fluoride treatments, x-rays, dental sealants, silver and white fillings, steel crowns, and removal of infected or unrestorable teeth. We are not equipped at this time to do root canals, braces, space maintainers, or partial dentures and you may need to arrange for such services elsewhere. Our Schedule… Since Miles of Smiles will operate full-time, our program has expanded to include additional Dare County schools and Hyde County schools. If your child’s school is not yet on our schedule, appointments can be made to bring them to the nearest location.
Emergencies… …can and do happen! If your child has a dental accident, noticeable infection, or severe pain, we will make every attempt to work them into our regular schedule as soon as possible.
Funded in part through a grant from
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