Community Health Bulletin Board
Program Name:
Dental Professionals Against Violence (DPAV)
Contact: Brittney Ryan
Phone: 916.554.4921
E-mail: brittney.ryan@cda.org
Description: As mandated health care professionals in California, dentists,
registered dental hygienists, and registered dental assistants have the responsibility
and legal obligation to report suspected child abuse and neglect, elder abuse
and neglect, and domestic violence where physical assault has occurred.
Did you know that 65% of physical child abuse is visible in the head and neck region, and that approximately 75% of physical injuries from domestic violence are inflicted to the head, face, mouth and neck? Dental professionals are in an excellent position to recognize such abuse. Even when victims of violence avoid seeking medical attention, they will keep routine and emergency dental appointments. Dental professionals can often be the first line of defense for an abuse victim and increase the victim's chances of obtaining life-saving assistance.
The DPAV training program is designed to assist dental professionals and their teams in recognizing and responding to child abuse/neglect, domestic/intimate partner violence, and elder abuse/neglect. The goal of DPAV is to raise the dental community's awareness of family violence using the most current information regarding patient risk assessment, clinical signs and symptoms, and dental professional's legal obligation to identify and report family violence situations. The program includes definitive action steps for dental professionals to use within their practices and communities.
DPAV’s training presentation is approximately 2½ hours in length and has been approved by the CDA for 2.5 CE units.
If you are interested in hosting a training program or learning more about DPAV, please contact Brittney Erickson at 916.554.4921.
Event: The Neighborhood Mobile Dental Van
Location: Elementary schools local to USC
Date: Ongoing
Contact: Jennifer Holtzman, DDS
Phone: 213.740.1098
Description: Through the Neighborhood Mobile Dental Van, USC dental students provide oral care and education to local underserved elementary school students. The van operates four days per week from 8 AM to noon, treats more than 1,200 students per year, donating almost $200,000 worth of dental work.
Volunteers Needed: Dentists, hygienists and licensed assistants are needed to mentor the students and to demonstrate proper positioning of equipment and exam technique. Volunteers must be HIPAA compliant and have current CPR training.
For more information contact Jennifer Holtzman, DDS.
Program Name:
Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County
Date: Ongoing
Location: Orange County Department of Health Dental Clinic
601 N Parkcenter Drive, Suite 110
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Contact: Dr. Richard Mungo, or Sandra Bolton, Executive Director, Healthy
Smiles for Kids
Phone: 714.480.0011
E-Mail: sbolton.hsk@sbcglobal.net
Description: Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County is a non-profit organization developed through the hard work of the Children and Families Commission. Pediatric dental services encompass prevention, education and clinical services for those children and families who are underserved, underprivileged or handicapped. A clinical facility is being built in Garden Grove. Partnering with Children’s Hospital of Orange County, the Boys and Girls Club of Garden Grove and the University of Southern California’s School of Dentistry completes the circle of support for this worthy effort. Dental services are currently being offered at the Orange County Department of Health’s dental clinic.
For more information, please contact Sandra Bolton or Dr. Richard Mungo.