In Dorchester County, where many families face increasingly demanding work schedules, limited transportation options, and other barriers to accessing care, maintaining regular dental appointments can be very difficult for children.

Many parents are working during traditional office hours, others may not have reliable transportation, and some may not realize their children qualify for Medicaid-based dental coverage through the Maryland Healthy Smiles Dental Program.

Recognizing that these obstacles prevent children from receiving preventive dental care, Choptank Community Health deploys a fully equipped mobile dental office that parks at county schools on school days.

Under the banner of Choptank’s school-based health initiative, the mobile dental unit allows students to enroll and receive preventive dental services on-site — minimizing the need for parents to take time off work or arrange transportation.

Inside the mobile unit, dental hygienist Elizabeth Boyko and clinical support specialist Lisa Windsor provide routine screenings that many students may otherwise never receive. Lead hygienist Sara Czyz-Harris reports that in the last year, nearly 1,500 children participated in the program; every enrolled student gets a dental screening and oral hygiene instruction, and many go on to receive cleanings, fluoride treatments, or sealants to prevent cavities.

The care-provider team understands that for some of these children, the visit from the mobile van is both their first dental exam and the only one they will receive during the school year.

“We come to the kids, because so many of them cannot get to us,” says Boyko.

“We try to break down every barrier we can,” Czyz-Harris adds. “Sometimes parents just need someone to guide them through the next step.”

When the team identifies a cavity or other urgent dental issue, they connect families with one of Choptank’s health centers, provide authorization documents, and help arrange transportation or an escort by a responsible adult, when needed.

Their service model has steadily grown. After a temporary reduction in numbers during the pandemic, the care-provider team rebuilt its presence school by school. Enrollment forms are now sent home with students during back-to-school packets each fall.

The mobile unit may remain at larger schools for several consecutive days; while Boyko works through her patient list, Czyz-Harris ensures coordination with teachers and school staff so students are not pulled out of essential classes.

“You have to be flexible,” Czyz-Harris says. “But we always figure it out.”

School nurses serve as key collaborators. When a student reports a toothache, nurses may reach out. “Can you check if this student is enrolled?” says Windsor. “The nurses know their kids well, and they help us reach the ones who need us most.”

Within the unit, the dental team takes time to talk with each child, explain procedures, and put nervous students at ease.

“If I can give a child a few minutes where someone is asking how they are doing and really listening, that matters,” Boyko explains.

Children remember these personal interactions. The team is often recognized in community settings.

“I have had kids yell across a crowded store, ‘It’s the dental lady!’” Boyko laughs. “They remember us, and that means they feel safe coming back.”

The need in Dorchester County is clearly evident. In the first quarter of this school year, the team screened about 450 children. Only 83 were screening-only visits, meaning more than 80 percent of the children required preventive or restorative services such as cleanings, fluoride, or sealants.

“That tells you how much work we have to do,” Czyz-Harris observes.

For the care-provider team at Choptank, the work is not just busy; it is profoundly rewarding and has become an essential part of their professional lives. Boyko says she loves knowing she can ease a child’s pain or anxiety in a few minutes. Czyz-Harris, with eight years in the program, hopes to retire doing this exact work.

Windsor, with nearly 22 years at Choptank, speaks proudly of an organization committed to ensuring vulnerable children do not fall through the cracks. They agree their greatest reward is seeing a child leave the chair smiling and unafraid.

In short, this service goes far beyond preliminary screenings. The mobile van’s presence guarantees access, reduces disruption to the school day, alleviates parental burden, and gives children the opportunity to grow up without untreated dental pain — enabling better focus, better attendance, and ultimately better learning.