Dental Health

Seal-A-Smile Offerings by School

Our district values the continued collaboration with community agencies to provide Wisconsin Seal-A-Smile services to students in district school buildings. Each of the programs who provided services to district students in the past are returning for the 2025-2026 school year. Details of their programs are shared through usual school communications or you may sign up here.

This year's participating schools within our district are:

Endeavor Elementary. (And for the dental cleaning program aged 5 years through 5th grade. See below.)

Woodridge Primary.     Lewiston Elementary.     John Muir Elementary.     

Bartels Middle School.     Portage Academy of Achievement (New 25-26!).     Portage High School (New 25-26!).

Check out this video about the Wisconsin Seal-A-Smile Program!

The district is thankful for the opportunity to offer these programs to our enrolled students and their families.

The Impact

The  2024-2025 School Year:  Students screened was 457.   Total number of students who received sealants was 277. Of the students served, 160 were identified with early dental needs and 6 with urgent dental needs. Total value of services provided at no cost to students/families was $145,800. This includes students from Endeavor Elementary, John Muir Elementary, Lewiston Elementary, Woodridge Primary, and Bartels Middle School. These services help PCSD students be healthy and ready to learn that contributes to overall quality of life. Thank you to our program partners in Columbia and Marquette Counties.

The 2021-2022 School Year: Students screened was 868. Total value of services provided at no cost to students/families $104,720. This includes students from Woodridge, grade 1 through Bartels Middle School grade 8. PCSD is so grateful for this program.

2020-2021 School Year: Students screened was 218. Total value of services provided at no cost to students/families $17,640.  Overall, the program has seen a negative shift in dental health across the State of Wisconsin. PCSD mirrored that shift.

2019-2020 School Year: Students screened before school closures due to COVID was 501. Total value of services provided at no cost to students/families $50,850.

2018-2019 School Year: The total value of services provided to students who attend a Portage Community School District School within Columbia County equaled $100,470. A total of 468 students participated in these schools.

Dental Days at Endeavor Elementary School

The Children's Dental Foundation in Marquette County will again return to Endeavor Elementary School to provide students with teeth cleanings, dental education while receiving services and care coordination if concerns need further evaluation. The target audience for this service is children with Medicaid/BadgerCare coverage or qualified low income. 

Forms for this program will be available at school, or ask in the school office.  The clinic days for 2025-2026 include Friday, September 19, 2025, for students kindergarten through 5th grade.  The spring date for the current school year will be distributed through usual school communications.

Wisconsin's Roadmap to Improving Oral Health 2020-2025.

Read on to see what is planned in Wisconsin for improving oral health for state residents.

Dental Health

Dental care is important for ALL family members.  Teeth play an important role in:

• speech
• eating
• facial appearance

Healthy teeth can be achieved through:

• wise food choices
• brushing each day in the morning and before bed
• flossing each day
• visiting the dental office for cleanings every 6 months. 

As a parent, model these habits for your child so she/he learns that you take the time to care for your teeth too.

Nationally, dental health issues account for 51 million lost school days each year!  Imagine having a toothache and completing your morning routine so you can get to school ready to perform at your best.  This would be a challenge for any of us.  Tooth decay has the potential to be lethal. Don't ignore pain in the mouth.  Get to a dentist to have it checked out.  Sometimes, an infection may start in the mouth and spread to other areas of the body.  If you notice changes in eating patterns, complaints of pain, weight loss or fever, these are all signs of a possible tooth problem.  Have it checked out.

Resources are offered here so parents may locate and access community dental health services.  One exciting offering is the Seal A Smile program available during 2023-24 to students at John Muir Elementary (grades 2 through 5), Lewiston Elementary (grades 2, 3, 4, and 5), Woodridge Primary (grade 1) and Bartels Middle School .  Watch for a form being sent home with your child in September to sign up.  Clinic days will begin in the fall. 

Endeavor Elementary students will have an opportunity to sign up for dental health services at school through the Marquette County Dental Health Foundation.  

Dental Care Clinic available to Columbia County residents.  The St. Vincent de Paul Dental Clinic in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin is accepting patients from Columbia County.  Please see the brochure and application for details.  Please note that this service requires a completed application and an appointment to obtain services.

Marquette County's Children's Dental Foundation

Children who reside in Marquette County who have Medicaid/BadgerCare insurance may utilize dental services through the Children's Dental Foundation. Contact the Marquette County Health Department for further information, 608/297-3135.

Dental and Health Discount Programs