The prevention program of PRASAD Children's Dental Health Program (CDHP) in New York was delighted to collaborate with the School of Nursing at Sullivan County Community College for a second year in bringing the fruits of oral health research to a place where it counts…the mouths of children and adults in the community.

Members of the CDHP team demonstrated their passion for oral health in two well received student seminars at the college. The first, entitled, "Oral Health of Patients in Long-Term and Acute Settings" was conducted on January 28 by Emily Lee, RDH and Gerri Wiley, RN. On January 31, Gerri and Maria Agostini, CDHP volunteer, presented "Teaching Oral Health in the First Grade" to first-year nursing students.

A third seminar, held on February 20, helped to prepare nursing students to teach effective toothbrushing technique to first

grade students throughout the county. Gerri discussed developmental teaching tools, Barbara Rothe, director of prevention for the New York State Bureau of Dental Health, provided up-to-date information on early childhood caries and oral health in pregnancy, and Dr. David Drew, the Mobile Dental Clinic's dentist, explained the links between oral and general health.

Sixty-seven student nurses now know the effect of oral disease on the rest of the body. They also know what causes tooth decay and how to prevent it. "The classroom experience has been an eye opener for students," says Nursing School Director, Donna Kleister. "They didn't realize how many young children were suffering the effects of oral disease." Ms. Kleister's dream is to see nurses become effective community change agents, and PRASAD CDHP looks forward to collaborating with the college in realizing this dream.