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Prevention

Tooth decay, also known as cavities, is a very common disease that can be painful and is preventable! 

Mouths are full of bacteria, or germs. Plaque is a soft, sticky film made up of some gems that builds up on teeth. When you eat or drink throughout the day the bacteria in plaque breaks down the food and drink which creates an acid. Over time, the acid will start to breakdown the protective layer of the tooth called the enamel. If enough of the enamel is removed, then a cavity will form. 

 

These pages will highlight some important ways that you can prevent cavities for yourself and others! 

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

  • " When you are in the military, they take care of your teeth but when you are a civilian if you don’t have dental coverage you are not able to afford dental care so you don’t go see the dentist. I think this program is important and needed because without it, I would have never known that I had options for dental treatment."

    Johnny, I-Smile Silver participant- Eastern Iowa

  • "I am very thankful for I-Smile Silver. They helped me find a dental provider close by and get the care that I needed at a reasonable cost. "

    Senior Apartment resident- Eastern Iowa

  • "Our I-Smile Silver coordinator came to our care facility and provided education to our direct care staff on oral health. I am very thankful she could come and discuss how oral health impacts overall health! "

    Director of Nursing- Eastern Iowa

  • "As a Certified Nursing Assistant instructor, I am happy to have connected with I-Smile Silver through Carole Ferch in Scott County. She provided me with the information to get certified in oral hygiene. I hope to develop a short in-service for long-term care facility staff to emphasize the importance of really good oral care."

    Certified Nursing Assistant Instructor- 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

  • "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?

The mouth is the first line of defense against diseases that can affect the rest of the body.

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