Dentist aids Head Start

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POCATELLO -- Bradley Sutton never planned on becoming a dentist while growing up because his father had spent more than three decades being one.

But working for two years under his father as a dental assistant changed his career choice.

Sutton is now a dentist with the Sutton Family Dentistry on Yellowstone Avenue. Despite a busy schedule, he finds time to volunteer his services with the local Head Start, a program known for teaching children the alphabet and other preschool skills, as well as giving parents job training and other helpful services.

Last year, Sutton said the state's Ronald McDonald House Charities provided Head Start with a grant that allowed the local program to provide health and hygiene education to low-income families.

To help fulfill the grant's objective, Head Start began contacting area doctors and dentists, and Sutton took the opportunity to volunteer a portion of his time to the program.

Last year, Sutton said he attended quarterly meetings with the local Head Start board and informed parents about maintaining good dental hygiene. He said he is the only dentist currently working with the program.

Some of his tips advised parents on making two visits a year to the dentist office, spending at least two minutes brushing, flossing regularly and cutting down on the consumption of sugary drinks.

The advice seems to be pretty routine, but Sutton said there is a surprising number of people who do not know the basics of proper dental hygiene. Family income is seldom a reason why many children, as well as their parents, fail to maintain clean and cavity-free teeth.

Sutton said he sees between five to 10 children a day.

"And it's very rare that I come across 9-year-old children who I don't have to do fillings on," he said.

By Yann Ranaivo

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