X
GO

What is I-Smile?

Girl outsideI-Smile is a statewide program that helps kids get dental care.

There are 23 I-Smile coordinators around the state who are responsible for working with children and families; dentists and dental office staff; medical providers; school nurses, teachers and administrators; businesses; civic organizations; and social service organizations. The coordinators work for county health departments or private, non-profit organizations to administer I-Smile in all 99 Iowa counties.

Some of the things that I-Smile does within communities include:

  • Providing dental screenings and applying fluoride for children at WIC clinics, Head Start centers, preschools, child care sites, and in schools.
  • Helping coordinate dental appointments by letting parents know what dentists will see them, helping find payment sources for dental care, and setting up transportation.
  • Promoting the importance of oral health by participating in community events, such as library reading hours, health fairs, and county fairs.

I-Smile is managed by the Iowa Department of Public Health.

Find My I-Smile Coordinator

On the Find My I-Smile Coordinator tab you can find the contact information for the I-Smile Coordinator in your county. 

Reports

What People Say About I-Smile
  • "I had made so many calls on my own and gotten turned down because of our insurance. I was frustrated!! A dental office that told me they couldn't help me gave me {the I-Smile Coordinator’s} number to call. She was able to schedule an appointment for me. Without her, I don't know what I would have done to get my child seen."

    Parent - Northern Iowa
  • "It is great to know that there is somebody who can help when we know that one of our local children has a dental problem.
    Thanks I-Smile!"

    Dentist - Western Iowa
  • "I feel that the I-Smile program has been very beneficial for our community. Through the I-Smile coordinator, many children who are in need of care have been sent to local dentists for care and some have found dental homes. Our I-Smile coordinator has also served as a valuable resource for other community projects involving dentistry."

    Dentist - Eastern Iowa
  • "Thank you SO much for coming and teaching our senior patients about their teeth and overall health. They really enjoyed your information and receiving a personal dental screening. Thank you so much for what you do; you are changing people's lives. "

    Senior Program Director- Northwest Iowa
  • "Give Kids a Smile Day {organized by our I-Smile Coordinator} is a gift not only to the kids but to the schools. For many kids this is a rare, perhaps the only, opportunity to have oral health needs attended to. When oral health is addressed, kids' health improves, they have a better outlook towards themselves and they approach life more positively. School attendance improves. Students are more engaged in the classroom with their teachers and peers and learning increases. Ultimately, kids end up with a better shot at life due to a not so simple gift that many of us take for granted."

    School Administrator - Western Iowa
  • "As a school nurse, I am impressed with the assistance provided by the I-Smile program. The assistance this program provides in helping families find a dental home, the way they can provide dental screenings, has been a tremendous benefit to those within our community. The benefits far exceed any of the costs involved with the program, particularly in a community like ours where the water is not fluoridated. Since the complications of untreated dental issues are well established, it is imperative that we have the assistance of the I-Smile program to promote the health and well-being of Iowa's children."

    School Nurse - Eastern Iowa
  • "Thank you for providing this service {school sealant program} to our students! I really appreciate it!"

    Parent- Southern Iowa
  • "I had made so many calls on my own and gotten turned down because of our insurance. I was frustrated!! A dental office that told me they couldn't help me gave me {the I-Smile Coordinator’s} number to call. She was able to schedule an appointment for me. Without her, I don't know what I would have done to get my child seen."

    Parent - Northern Iowa
  • "Thank you SO much for coming and teaching our senior patients about their teeth and overall health. They really enjoyed your information and receiving a personal dental screening. Thank you so much for what you do; you are changing people's lives. "

    Senior Program Director- Northwest Iowa
  • "I had made so many calls on my own and gotten turned down because of our insurance. I was frustrated!! A dental office that told me they couldn't help me gave me {the I-Smile Coordinator’s} number to call. She was able to schedule an appointment for me. Without her, I don't know what I would have done to get my child seen."

    Parent - Northern Iowa
  • "It is great to know that there is somebody who can help when we know that one of our local children has a dental problem.
    Thanks I-Smile!"

    Dentist - Western Iowa
  • "Give Kids a Smile Day {organized by our I-Smile Coordinator} is a gift not only to the kids but to the schools. For many kids this is a rare, perhaps the only, opportunity to have oral health needs attended to. When oral health is addressed, kids' health improves, they have a better outlook towards themselves and they approach life more positively. School attendance improves. Students are more engaged in the classroom with their teachers and peers and learning increases. Ultimately, kids end up with a better shot at life due to a not so simple gift that many of us take for granted."

    School Administrator - Western Iowa
  • "I feel that the I-Smile program has been very beneficial for our community. Through the I-Smile coordinator, many children who are in need of care have been sent to local dentists for care and some have found dental homes. Our I-Smile coordinator has also served as a valuable resource for other community projects involving dentistry."

    Dentist - Eastern Iowa

Did You Know?

Since 2008, I-Smile has coordinated dental visits for 1,066,257 Medicaid-enrolled kids aged 0-12.