Community Health Center of Snohomish County (CHC) operates school-based health centers (SBHC) at two Edmonds School District high schools: Meadowdale and Mountlake Terrace. These clinics provide a private, convenient, and safe place for students to receive medical, dental, and mental health care.
All students are eligible for Smile Checks, provided they have a signed consent form from a parent or guardian, and services are provided at school at no cost, regardless of insurance coverage. This service, offered in the fall, is a quick visual examination conducted by a dental professional that focuses on identifying urgent or emerging needs.
“I enjoy working directly with the students in an environment they’re already comfortable in, instead of the traditional dental setting,” said Dr. Katherine Nguyen, a dentist with CHC. “It usually becomes a fun and exciting event for the kids, and we get to be a part of shaping positive dental experiences for them.”
Of those screened, 21% required urgent dental care (to be seen by a provider within 30 days), while 3% faced emergent issues needing attention within two weeks. In such cases, CHC staff promptly contact parents to ensure timely follow-up care.
CHC dental professionals engage with students to educate them about nutrition and proper brushing, emphasizing the importance of reporting anything unusual in their mouth to an adult as early as possible. They also conduct oral cancer screenings, looking for lumps and bumps in the mouth, which is crucial for early detection.
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Dr. Katherine Nguyen, DDS