Health Office Management, Oral Health
The Missouri Preventive Services Program (PSP) is dedicated to improving healthy smiles for all of Missouri’s children through education and preventive treatment. The goal of PSP is to review Missouri children’s oral health and provide a public health intervention called fluoride varnish.
Tooth decay is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood. Untreated tooth decay can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning. Children who have poor oral health often miss more school and receive lower grades than children who have good oral health. Oral Health is an important part of general health.
Beginning Fall 2024, Missouri school nurses are encouraged to become calibrated oral health reviewers. This annual process enables nurses to get the resources they need to assess student oral health, provide grade-level education, share school oral health data to the state, and secure free resources for students, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, fluoride varnish and floss (grades 4 and higher).
Related resources
Oral Health Guide for Caregivers of School-Age Children (16-page PDF, includes Dental Trauma Decision Tree)
Preventative Services Program (PSP) Dashboard
Preventative Services Program (PSP) FAQs website (Downloadable 2-page PDF)
Brushing Basics Activity Book – English (Downloadable 10-page pdf)
Brushing Basics Activity Book – Spanish (Downloadable 10-page pdf)
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