Good News most dental disease is preventable, and if caught in the early stages, it can be stopped and/or reversed
CDC Director, Julie Gerberding, MD stated, “If more communities would implement these programs, we could save many children from needless pain and suffering and save the nation millions of dollars in dental care costs.”
HPS Benefits Schools and Children
- No cost to the school district.
- Less classroom time is missed by receiving preventive services at school.
- Program emphasizes prevention and education. HPS registered dental hygienists (RDHs) are available as resources to speak at PTA/PTO meetings, health fairs, parenting classes, and other educational opportunities.
- Non-discriminatory and available to all children with a parent’s permission. It is not an exclusive Medicaid program.
- HPS alleviates most oral health responsibilities from school nurses.
- HPS serves school districts around the state since 2000.
- We provide dental service reporting to school nurses and districts.
If HPS is not currently in your childs school, contact us today.
Administrative Support Staff
Tammi O. Byrd, RDH
CEO/Clinical Director
Shana Burchell
Administrative Executive Assistant
Laura Hancock, RDH
Professional Relations Coordinator/Inventory Control
Wedge SC
Infrastructure Management, Database Services
Associate Dentists
Edward E. Herschaft, DDS
Laura Walls, DDS
Professional and Clinical Staff
Dental hygienists are the preventive specialists of the dental team. All of our services are provided by registered dental hygienists.
Each HPS RDH is recognized by an accredited dental hygiene program, has passed national and state boards, is licensed by the state, has additional training in child abuse awareness and prevention, cultural awareness and is certified in adult and child CPR, AED, and infant CPR.
Registered Dental Hygienists
- Tracey Buddin, RDH — Florence 3 (Lake City), Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester 4
- Kelley Cato, RDH — Lexington 2 &4, Richland 2, York 1, 2 (Clover), Bamberg and Marlboro
- Amber Dominquez, RDH — Spartanburg 2 & 3, Union, SC Public Charters
- Kim Fulmer, RDH — Lexington 3 & 5, Edgefield and Saluda
- Judy Godfrey, RDH — Greenwood 51 (Ware Shoals) & 52 (Ninety-Six), Spartanburg 4 (Woodruff) and Union
- Shaye Dase, RDH — McCormick, Pickens, Abbeville and Anderson 1,2,3,4,5
- Angela Sacco, RDH — Lexington 1, Orangeburg and Calhoun
- Shawna Saldana, RDH — Charleston and Colleton
*All staff undergo background checks through the National Center for Safety Initiatives
To inquire about becoming an HPS team member, contact us today.
We know that a vast number of the clients we see in school-based settings have numerous obstacles that get in the way of making and keeping appointments, especially appointments for things that are not broken or hurting – such as a cleaning appointment.
By offering this service in a familiar surrounding, we increase acceptance and it gives us the opportunity to establish communication with the parents. We have seen that more children are making it to offices for restorative appointments since we started in the schools . Most of them have not been going on a regular basis in previous years. We do not perform exams or radiographs, thereby allowing the office treatment planning restorative services to have that ability.
When we see a child at the school we have the opportunity to refer them each time to a dental office. This helps reinforce the need for regular exams and radiographs, and of course, all of the necessary restorative work.
We welcome restorative partners to help us complete the comprehensive care cycle. It is “teamwork” at its best. We will send the names of our restorative partners home with each child, list them in school newsletter articles, and on our display boards at health fairs, and other events we participate in.
We are able to share information with referral partners concerning the care specific children received and vice-versa. This is not possible without an agreement due to HIPAA regulations. It also helps prevent the duplication of services that deplete the Medicaid dollars available for restorative and emergency care. It allows us all to be accountable and responsible.
To inquire about becoming a restorative partner, contact us today.
Health Promotion Specialists partners with school districts in an effort to lessen the high rate of dental disease in SC.
As part of a comprehensive health team, we also refer any children with additional treatment needs to local pediatricians, nurse practitioners, speech therapists, dentists, etc.
CDC Division of Oral Health
Darkness to Light
To inquire about becoming a prevention partner, contact us today.
Please look at the following information: Cost of Dental Disease