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Dental Support Center

Healthy Smiles Through Tribal Partnerships

The California Dental Support Center provides technical assistance and resources to 36 Tribal and urban health programs (107 Tribes), which operate 58 dental clinics in California. The Dental Support Center provides educational presentations and preventive resources to 22 Head Start/Early Head Start sites and Tribal Day care centers that operate separately from the health programs.

Our Mission:

To reduce dental decay in Native American infants, children and adults in California Tribal communities and provide training, technical assistance, and resources to Tribal and urban dental clinics in California.

The California Dental Support Center is one of the eight centers funded by the Indian Health Service Clinical and Preventive Dental Support Centers Project.

Program Locations

Dental Support Center Program Goals:

One

Prevent

Reduce and prevent oral diseases in AIAN children and their families through clinic-based and community-based initiatives.

Two

Reduce

Reduce the prevalence of oral disease among pregnant mothers, youth, and adults in California Tribal communities.

Three

Improve

Continue to improve and enhance the services provided through the Dental Support Center.

Tools and Resources

Clinic-Based Resources

  1. Hands-On Trainings for Dentists
    • Crown Lengthening Course
    • Oral Surgery
    • Mini-Implants
    • Pediatric Dentistry
  2. Certification Courses for RDA/DA
    • Dental Sealants
    • Coronal Polish
    • Infection Control (8 Hours)
  3. Annual Dental Conference (Held May of Each Year)
  4. RDH Scholarships
  5. Quarterly Newsletter
  6. Medical/Dental Staff Presentations
  7. Fluoride Varnish Application-For Medical Staff

Community-Based Resources

The DSC staff will give oral health presentations to:

  1. Head Start/Early Head Start staff/parents
  2. Tribal Childcare Centers
  3. Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) Program Providers
  4. American Indian Infant Health Initiative (AIIHI) Program Providers
  5. Aging and Oral Health-Presentations to Seniors

With no cost to you, we provide the following:

Resource Kit: – Animal Dental Puppet, Set of tooth story books (8), coloring sheets, list of tooth songs with CD, Dudley and Dental Health DVD, discussion guide, tooth projects for arts and craft, brushing poster, tooth brushes Oral health presentation to staff, parents, and children. Funds are available to provide refreshments for the presentation attendees. Toothbrushes/toothpaste kits for parents who attend the presentation Fluoride Varnish Application Trainings/Certification: The Dental Support Center facilitates hands-on training/certification on fluoride varnish applications to community partners (Head Start staff, Early Head Start staff, Medical staff, and Community Health Representatives).

Attendees will earn the certification/CEUs by completing: Part 1 – Online Course

Part 2 – Hands-On Training Attendees will receive free fluoride varnish for application to Head Start/Early HS children.

Continuing Dental Education Courses

All instruction provided by a Dental Board-approved agency

  • Infection Control Certification:

Infection Control Course for Unlicensed Dental Assistants (8 Hours)

Please note: the Dental Support Center pays the class registration fees for attendees.

  • RDA-Dental Sealant Certification

Dental Sealant Course for Unlicensed Dental Assistants (16 Hours)

Please note: the Dental Support Center pays the class registration fees for attendees.

  • Coronal Polish Course:

Coronal Polish Certification for Unlicensed Dental Assistants (16 hours)

Please note: the Dental Support Center pays the class registration fees for attendees.

Trainings and Conferences

  • Management of Dental Traumatology Training—January 21, 2021, from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. A live, online course presented by Adrian Silberman, D.D.S. (2.0 Continuing Dental Education Credits Provided). Click here for more information.
  • Check back for details re: the annual CRIHB and California Area IHS Continuing Dental Education Conference in 2021

DSC Advisory Committee

  • Michael Donaleski, DDS—Area Dental Officer (IHS/CAO)
  • Paige Drahn, RDA—Chapa-De Indian Health Program (RDA Representative)
  • Alice Huang, DDS—American Indian Health Services (Urban Tribal Programs)
  • Elizabeth Lauron, DDS—Riverside/San Bernardino County IHC  (Southern CA Programs)
  • Chalise Morgan, DDS—Shingle Springs Tribal Health & Wellness Center (Central CA Programs)
  • Rick Trahin, DDS—Ad Hoc Dentist
  • Stacey Wobbe, RDH—Greenville Rancheria (RDH Representative)
  • Nicamer Tolentino, MPH—HSD Deputy Director (CRIHB)
  • Consuelo Gambino, BA—Dental Support Center Coordinator (CRIHB)
  • Jan Carver, MSHS, RDH—DTI Dental Project Coordinator (CRIHB)

For more information, contact:

Consuelo Gambino
Dental Support Center Coordinator
(916) 929-9761, ext. 1307
cgambino@crihb.org