Project focuses on oral health in Oklahoma

BY SUSAN SIMPSON
Published: March 7, 2009

The University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry will pilot a national project to educate rural Oklahomans about preventative oral health.

The college is among three selected by the American Dental Association to train a new type of worker — community dental health coordinators.

OU will train 18 coordinators as part of a five-year pilot program to raise awareness of preventative health and catch dental problems before they become severe.

"Our community doesn’t want dental health unless they have a toothache. That’s what we are trying to address,” said Jessica Johnson, a dental assistant from Clayton who will take 12 months of online courses from OU to become a community dental health coordinator. She won’t get paid as a coordinator, but her college courses are free as part of the pilot project.

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