Did you know that in Milwaukee school-based oral health programs, over half of children screened were diagnosed with untreated dental disease? Our partnership recognized that many children in Milwaukee had untreated dental disease and implemented a plan to address it.

Making Milwaukee Smile addressed increased participation in a school-based oral health program for children utilizing an oral health care coordinator.  In addition, the coordinator worked with families to assist in finding dental homes.  Partners also trained pediatric and family practice physicians and their staff on providing oral health risk assessments and applying fluoride varnish to increase oral health prevention.

The partners of Making Milwaukee Smile invite you to join us December 6, 2011 at 1:00 pm for the release of findings from a three-year research project on improving the oral health of children in Milwaukee.

Confirmed guests/speakers:

• Sen. Chris Larson

• Sen. Spencer Coggs

• Ald. Willie Hines Jr.

Making Milwaukee Smile partners include:

• Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin

• Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Dental Center

• Columbia St. Mary’s Foundation – Smart Smiles

• Marquette University School of Dentistry

• Medical College of Wisconsin

• Milwaukee Health Services Inc.

• Milwaukee Public Schools

• Southeast Dental Associates

Partners will share findings, lessons learned and recommendations for the continued improvement of oral health in Milwaukee. This report is the result of a three year Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program impact award implementing recommendations from Healthy Teeth = Healthy Kids, a report developed by the same partners to address improving the oral health of Milwaukee children.  All objectives of the program (Making Milwaukee Smile) were exceeded and this method can be replicated in communities across Wisconsin and the nation.