Mariposa Community Health Center has a new program, Project Happy Smile/Proyecto Sonrisa Feliz, to all children from 0-5 years of age in Santa Cruz County.

Proyecto Sonrisa Feliz offers oral health screening and fluoride varnish application, provided by a Registered Dental Hygienist at regularly scheduled community sites in the county.

Children as young as 1 year of age benefit from the screening and fluoride application as these preventative measures help to avoid dental decay later. The parent is also given important oral health education information by a Promotora de Salud.

This service is free and walk-ins are welcome. For more information about the dates/times/locations, call Platicamos Salud, (520) 375-6050 and ask for Sylvia Gastelum or Cecilia Navarro.

Project Happy Smile is funded by First Things First. First Things First (FTF) was approved by Arizona voters and works to ensure that the youngest children have access to quality early childhood experiences so they will start school healthy and ready to succeed.