Dental clinic brings free dental care and lots of smiles

The North Syracuse Central School District is proud to announce the successful completion of the first Healthy Smiles Dental Clinic visits to four of our elementary schools this fall, Allen Road Elementary, Cicero Elementary, Lakeshore Road Elementary and Roxboro Road Elementary.

Thanks to the leadership of District Nursing Services Supervisor Peg Miller, North Syracuse CSD became the first district in Central New York to bring this free, on-site dental care program directly to students in school. The clinics provided essential preventive services including dental exams, cleanings, fluoride treatments and sealants, all at no cost to families.

A Healthy Start for Students
The Healthy Smiles program is a government-funded initiative designed to make preventive dental care accessible and convenient for children. By bringing the care right into schools, students can receive checkups and treatments without missing valuable classroom time or requiring families to schedule outside appointments.

Peg Miller, who coordinated the effort, said the response from families and students was overwhelmingly positive.
“We’re thrilled to see how well the program was received,” Miller said. “For many families, this makes dental care so much more accessible. Our goal is to ensure that every child has the opportunity for a bright, healthy smile.”

The program will return in the spring, and Miller hopes to expand participation to all six NSCSD elementary schools. Families who may have missed out this fall will have another opportunity to register their children when sign-ups reopen. “We’re already planning the next round of clinics,” Miller shared. “Healthy Smiles has made such a difference for our students, and we’re excited to grow the program even further.”

About Healthy Smiles: Healthy Smiles is a government-funded dental program that brings professional dental teams directly to schools. Services are covered by Medicaid and most private insurance, and no child is turned away due to cost. Families receive a summary of their child’s visit and recommendations for any follow-up care.

To learn more or to complete the parental consent form, visit HealthySmilesNYS.com or call 718-689-7020. Printed forms are also available in each school’s health office. For questions, contact Peg Miller, NSCSD Nursing Services Supervisor, at mmiller@nscsd.org or 315-218-4153.