The teeth of about 50 second graders from Herbert E. Lockhart Elementary School are getting a lot of attention. They are the focus of the Children's Dental Sealant Project, a pilot program sponsored by the Rotary Club of St. Thomas II, the government and the private sector.
Yvonne E.L. Thraen, Rotary II president, said the collaborative effort has been "extremely successful." She said 81 children were screened from four classes of second graders, ages six to eight years. Of those screened, only 51 were eligible for the sealant process because the others had cavities and were considered at high risk of losing permanent teeth early.
"The need for sealant placement is urgent," said Thraen, "It will obviate the pain and fear associated with restoring damaged teeth." She said placement of the sealant on permanent molars of all second-graders in the territory can largely ensure the prevention of caries, and foster oral health in the children.
Lockhart School was chosen as the target school for the project because of its proximity to adjacent Roy L. Schneider Hospital's main dental clinic.
Collaborating with Rotary II on the project were the V. I. Health Department's Division of Dental Health Services, the Office of the Governor, the Education Department, and volunteer services by Sonia Griffith, D.D.S., a pediatric dental specialist.
