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PARKERSBURG - The West Virginia Oral Health Coalition wants to put a healthy smile on the faces of state residents.
The coalition met Friday in Parkersburg to plan for the West Virginia State Oral Health Plan 2020-2025. The coalition has been in existence for 10 years and is open to anyone interested in oral health.
The group's mission is "Healthy Smiles for All" and the two main areas of focus have been community water fluoridation and dental sealant programs for school-age children.
The Town Hall meeting was the first of many that will be held around the state to receive stakeholder input for the next State Oral Health Plan, said Carrie Brainard, public information specialist with the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department.
Friday was the third time local stakeholders have met over the years to discuss this topic, Brainard said. The two previous meetings were to plan the first and second Oral Health Plans 2010-2015 and 2016-2020.
Prior to 2010, West Virginia did not have a full-time state dental director or a state plan for oral health, which was needed to obtain federal and Center for Disease Control and Prevention funding for oral health projects in West Virginia, Brainard said.
The state plan serves as a roadmap for the future to accomplish goals and objectives to improve oral health for all citizens of West Virginia. This is important since the health of the mouth affects total body health, Brainard noted.
History was provided about the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Oral Health Program, the West Virginia Oral Health Coalition and local oral health programs through the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department. Accomplishments of all programs were highlighted at Friday's meeting.
For further information about the Oral Health Coalition, email wvoralhealthcoalition@gmail.com or contact the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department at movhd.com.
Mary Beth Shea is the oral health coordinator at the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department.