Improving oral health in Arizona starts with teaching children and adults how to maintain a healthy mouth. The Desert Senita Dental Center (DSDC) believes in providing affordable dental care for all and helps patients create good oral health habits. Through a Delta Dental of Arizona grant-funded program, DSDC visits children and pregnant women across the state to provide screenings, fluoride varnish treatments and silver diamine fluoride procedures.
Nia’s Story
Nia is a third grader in Ajo, AZ. She had sore teeth, which made it hard for her to focus on her schoolwork. When the dental professionals from Desert Senita Community Health Center’s dental center came to her school, Nia was scared, but let them look in her mouth. Dr. Jennifer Lim told Nia she had 11 cavities which were making her mouth sore and they would need to be fixed.
“Why do I have cavities?” Nia asked. Dr. Lim explained how the bacteria in her mouth were eating the leftover food and drinks. The bacteria create acids that can make holes in our teeth, known as cavities. She learned that if she brushed her teeth for two minutes twice a day, less bacteria would be in her mouth and then fewer cavities. It was the first time she heard about brushing twice a day and cavities.
Nia’s parents took her to the dental center and Nia’s teeth were fixed. During one visit, she told Dr. Lim she brushes her teeth 3 times a day, even after lunch at school. Her mother said Nia could not wait to come to the dentist and kept asking when she had her next appointment.
Delta Dental of Arizona is proud to partner with Desert Senita Community Health Center to create healthy smiles.
