The Smiling School Program, launched in 2022 following a partnership between Himdent Foundation and the Uttarakhand State Education Department, is a dedicated school dental health initiative aimed at promoting preventive dental care among children in remote regions of the state. The program’s primary goal is to address the lack of awareness about oral hygiene that often leads to widespread dental health issues in these underserved areas.
The findings from our outreach have been striking—close to 90% of the children covered under the program exhibited varying degrees of tooth decay. This alarming statistic highlights the urgent need for intervention, and Himdent Foundation has been tackling this issue head-on through a dual approach: awareness and preventive treatment.
- Awareness:
We conduct comprehensive oral health counseling sessions using engaging audio-visual tools to educate children on the importance of oral hygiene and how they can prevent common dental issues. - Preventive Treatment:
Within the school premises, we provide vital treatments such as permanent restorations, pit and fissure sealants, and teeth scaling (cleaning). By offering these services on-site, we expose children to dental treatment options and emphasize the importance of prioritizing oral health, especially in remote areas where access to healthcare is limited.
With healthcare infrastructure scarce in rural regions, prevention becomes the most effective solution, and the Smiling School Program is committed to fostering a culture of dental health awareness and action among children. Through this initiative, we aim to ensure that every child learns to value their oral health and takes the necessary steps to protect it for life.
