MONROE - The Green County Health Department plans to establish a free dental clinic for children by the end of summer.
Green County Health Department Director Vicki Evenson said the project is in its initial stages. Grants are being written to raise money for the clinic. The health department is working with the Southwest Community Action Program to establish the clinic.
Evenson said dental care is an important issue facing children in Green County. The program would target children from the ages of 3 to 12, she said. The clinic will treat children with emergency problems.
It makes sense to focus on children first, she said.
"A child with a toothache in school isn't focused on learning," Evenson said.
Children with poor teeth also have problems eating nutritional food such as vegetables.
"Tooth decay and problems can also lead to heart problems," she added.
Evenson said local dentists will be asked to donate a few hours a month to help out at the clinic.
Dental care can be expensive and many children in Green County are uninsured and their families can't afford the deductibles associated with dental care.
McDonald's sponsors a dental bus that comes to Green County for a couple of weeks every year and this year, Evenson said, 70 children were given free dental care.
Evenson hopes the program will be able to expand in the future, but for now she said it's important to focus on children.
Green County Health Department Director Vicki Evenson said the project is in its initial stages. Grants are being written to raise money for the clinic. The health department is working with the Southwest Community Action Program to establish the clinic.
Evenson said dental care is an important issue facing children in Green County. The program would target children from the ages of 3 to 12, she said. The clinic will treat children with emergency problems.
It makes sense to focus on children first, she said.
"A child with a toothache in school isn't focused on learning," Evenson said.
Children with poor teeth also have problems eating nutritional food such as vegetables.
"Tooth decay and problems can also lead to heart problems," she added.
Evenson said local dentists will be asked to donate a few hours a month to help out at the clinic.
Dental care can be expensive and many children in Green County are uninsured and their families can't afford the deductibles associated with dental care.
McDonald's sponsors a dental bus that comes to Green County for a couple of weeks every year and this year, Evenson said, 70 children were given free dental care.
Evenson hopes the program will be able to expand in the future, but for now she said it's important to focus on children.