Smile Programs

Who performs the dental services delivered by Smile Programs?

Smile Programs team members are a caring group of dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants and x-ray technicians who are devoted to the importance of outreach dentistry and serving children most vulnerable to the most prevalent childhood disease: tooth decay. Every dentist and dental hygienist working in the schools is a locally licensed clinician.

What types of dental services are provided?

Services that are provided include: dental examinations, dental cleanings, fluoride treatments, sealants, any necessary digital radiographs and referral if the follow-up care is outside the scope of the school setting. In some areas, restorative services such as simple fillings, stainless steel crowns, pulpotomies and baby teeth extractions may also be provided.

Who pays for Smile Programs to visit schools?

The majority of our services are covered by dental insurance including Medicaid or CHIP.

What are the work hours?

The dental team works a 6.5 hour clinical day that mirrors school hours, on average from 8:00 am – 3:00pm. We ask our teams to arrive approximately 30 minutes before the start of the school day to help get ready.

How many professionals are included in each Smile Programs team that visits a given location?

Our teams generally include a dentist, registered dental hygienist and a dental assistant.

Would I be traveling?

Staff may be asked to drive “reasonable” distances from their home. Our primary site of service delivery is in schools so in most cases, our staff visits a new school every day. An analogy would be that of a substitute teacher who might be asked to teach in a different school every day. For those who enjoy travel, overnight assignments may be available.

What procedures would I be performing?

In area where only preventive services are offered, care would include complete exams, cleanings, sealants, fluoride applications and any necessary x-rays and referrals as needed.

In areas where both preventive and restorative services are offered, care includes the above and simple fillings, pulpotomies, stainless steel crowns and baby teeth extractions.

Who does my scheduling?

All scheduling is done in the main office by an administrative and logistics staff. Each state has a “State Manager” that oversees all associated operational tasks and addresses any problems or issues that may arise.