Healthy teeth and gums are important! They help you and your children smile, eat, and speak. Proper dental care begins even before a baby’s first tooth appears and continues throughout life.

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School-based Dental Program

The Battle River Treaty 6 Health Centre dental teams provide a full range of dental treatment for children in their communities. School dental clinics operate throughout the school year (September – June.

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Dental treatments and resources for school-aged children enrolled in the program include:

• Check-ups and x-rays
• Placement of fillings and crowns (caps)
• Nerve Treatment
• Removal of teeth where necessary
• Protective sealants  (on non-decayed teeth)
• Cleaning teeth, fluoride treatment, and prevention of dental decay
• Classroom toothbrush program
• Referrals to specialists for dental treatment when needed

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Dental Health Education

The dental health educator offers clinical services such as oral hygiene instruction for school children and applying fluoride varnishes to protect teeth. The dental health educator also does classroom presentations on dental health topics, including special presentations during Dental Health Month.

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Community Oral Health

The Children’s Oral Health Initiative (COHI) operates in all BRT6HC communities.

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COHI community staff (Dental Therapist and Family Health Worker/COHI aide) seek to prevent tooth decay and improve oral health for children and their parents/caregivers by providing:

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• Dental screenings and fluoride varnish applications for children under 7
• Dental health education for parents and caregivers, including prenatal presentations
• Referral for treatment to dental offices or hospital dental treatment where necessary
• The COHI dental staff provides screenings and dental health education at family health clinics in the communities throughout the year, including well baby clinics, 4 year screenings, and pre-natal classes

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Preventing Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is a serious health issue. The average rate of tooth decay in BRT6HC communities is 2-3 times higher than the average tooth decay for children in the general Saskatchewan population.

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Parents and caregivers can help protect their children’s dental health by:

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• Not putting pop or juice in a bottle or sippy cup
• Using water only in a baby’s night time bottle
• Replacing the bottle with a cup by the age of one year
• Choosing to give their children a healthy diet with less sugar
• Helping children with their brushing and flossing until they are 6-8 years old
• Setting an example by regularly brushing and flossing their own teeth

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After Hour Dental Emergencies

In case of a dental emergency, call the Battlefords Union Hospital at 306-446-6600 and ask for the on-call dentist.