Health Partners benefits from grant

LIMA - Helping to fill the gap in preventative health care, Allen County Health Partners will now offer fluoride varnish treatments for children's teeth.
The Anthem Foundation of Ohio will give more than $1 million in grants to health care centers in Ohio to administer this treatment, said Shawn Frick, president and CEO of the Ohio Association of Community Health Centers.
This is to help prevent tooth decay, Frick said.
"What we're trying to do is make sure when and if they go see their dentist at age 5 or 6 that they're not overwhelmed with cavities," he said. "By the time they actually go to a dentist, they simply have rotten teeth."
Kym Taflinger, grants and special projects director at Allen County Health Partners, said many dentists in this area simply don't see young children, much less low-income young children. The grant allows for children from ages 9 months to 3 years to be treated with this varnish, which is simply brushed onto the teeth. Children's teeth should be treated two or three times a year.
"It's really targeting low income and minority children and kids under the age of 3," Taflinger said. "Oral health care affects medical care and their overall health."
The varnish is applied during "well baby" visits, and the child then has access to the two dentists on staff at the center.
"We're trying to link them to get care long-term," Taflinger said.
The program, which began July 1, will be supported by a three-year grant. The center anticipates being able to treat about 600 children each year.
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 TOOTH VARNISH
Young children must first make a medical visit to Allen County Health Partners, 441 E. Eighth St., to use this program. For details, call 419-221-3072.