— Information courtesy of Granville Vance Public Health
Granville Vance Public Health has received a $62,500 grant from the Triangle North Health Care Foundation to expand and strengthen its School-Based Oral Health Program, also known as the “Tooth Club.”
This marks the third consecutive year TNHF has supported the program, reflecting the foundation’s mission to improve health outcomes across Vance, Granville, Warren, and Franklin counties.
The Tooth Club brings preventive dental care directly to students in both Granville County Public Schools and Vance County Schools, as well as public charters Henderson Collegiate and Falls Lake Academy. GVPH’s Carolina Fellows Family Dentistry runs the program and focuses on serving students who may not otherwise have access to regular dental services.
“This grant is an important step forward in our mission to protect and promote health in our communities,” said Dr. Navid Nesab, CFFD lead dentist. “We’re thankful for TNHF’s continued trust and support, and for the strong partnerships we have with our schools and local families.”
The funding will allow GVPH to purchase a new portable dental unit, enabling the dental team to expand services and reach more students where they are – at school. The clinics offer preventive services such as dental cleanings, X-rays, sealants to protect teeth from cavities, fluoride treatments, oral health checkups and take-home oral health report cards for parents.
Care is provided at no cost to families. If a student is covered by Medicaid or private insurance, those plans will be billed. However, families will not be responsible for co-pays, deductibles, or any other costs for services not covered by insurance.
Parents and guardians will be notified of the program’s availability through flyers, school announcements, and email. Registration is available through the Tooth Club registration link on the GVPH dental clinic webpage: www.gvph.org/clinic/dental, as well as https://gra.identalcloud.com/GranvilleVance/Patient/_practice/2/Registration
With oral health linked closely to overall well-being, GVPH leaders say the Tooth Club is helping students stay healthy, confident, and ready to learn.
“We want every child to have a healthy smile, regardless of their family’s income or insurance status,” Nesab said. “That’s what this program is all about.”
