College of Dentistry continues to support healthy smiles with MHA grant

More than 600 students in Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District and some in the surrounding communities have been seen this semester, thanks to a $210,000 grant that allows Texas A&M College of Dentistry faculty and students to provide dental health education, screenings, oral health kits and oral health care, including sealants, on 10 campuses during the 2025-26 school year. That includes students in eight elementary schools and two middle schools.

Empowering Smiles Oral Health Initiative, now in its second year, is funded through a grant from Metrocrest Hospital Authority. The program used $120,000 in MHA grant funding to provide education and treatment to five elementary schools last year, and it was so successful that Dr. Amal Noureldin, program director, was asked to expand its reach.

“We have noticed a severe surge in decay incidence compared to last year in some schools,” said Noureldin, clinical professor and director of the predoctoral program in public health sciences. “About 45% of the students show signs of tooth decay.”

Second and third graders receive dental sealants if their parents consent. Dental sealants — thin plastic coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of premolars and molars — serve as protective barriers against bacteria that cause decay and cavities. 

Blast Days, which provide fluoride varnish and dental education, were held at Bush and Perry middle schools for the first time this year.

In total, 167 students have received sealants in the first semester. To help with the increased demand for sealants, both as part of the MHA grant and the anticipated needs of other school districts A&M Dentistry may work with in the future, the dental college recently expanded its sealant program to include second-year students.

The grant also requires A&M Dentistry to provide education at two community health events. The first one was the school district’s back-to-school event in August. The second will be Feb. 28 at Woven Health Clinic in Farmers Branch.

Noureldin said more than 2,000 students will be screened this year, up from more than 1,000 last year. She also plans to add two more schools.