PLAINFIELD - Plainfield School District's nurses were concerned to bring dentists into the schools, saying that they are seeing an increase of students with tooth pain and also dental decay which prevents them from focusing on learning.
However, three school board members who were serve on the personnel and administration committee also expressed concerns Wednesday about pulling students out of the class for something that should be parents' responsibility.
The committee decided that the issue must be brought to the whole school board for discussion at its 7:30 p.m. meeting tonight at the administration center, 15732 Howard St.
This year, there is a new state law requiring dental exams for all the students in kindergarten, second and sixth grades which must be performed after November 15, 2004, and before the May 15, 2006 is the deadline.
Laurie Inda, nursing coordinator for the district, recommends bringing Smile Illinois into the five schools as a pilot program in May.
If students have cavities, they will have to see a regular dentist.
"We don't do it for inoculations. I don't see how this would be any different. ... I don't see this as a priority at this time," she said, adding that the program doesn't require parents to get follow-up treatment like filling cavities.
"You are right, we are not a Chicago Public School, but we are seeing more and more kids who need these services," Inda said. "We have two families living in one house saying they don't have dental insurance.
"Children who have dental pain will have a difficult time in the classroom. Healthy children learn better as they are more comfortable in the classroom," Inda said. "We do see kids with obvious decay in their teeth."
Board member Linda Johnson was concerned about students' missing 30 minutes of class time because they were getting their teeth cleaned. She was also concerned that parents who already had dental insurance would send their children to the Smile Illinois program to save themselves time. Meanwhile, she said, the children who really need the program wouldn't be reached.
"Children are sitting in pain in these classrooms and can't learn and we see this all the time," Pentzien said. "We work with the children who don't get to see a dentist any other time.
"Oftentimes we are the only dental provider the children will ever visit," Pentzien said. "Our mission is to increase the quality of life for these children. ... Prevention is our focus and our passion."