A newly formed community coalition,  announced today the launch of Murray Smiles with Oral Health Access, LLP, an innovative mobile dental hygiene program designed to eliminate barriers to oral healthcare for students within the Murray City School District.

The initiative is made possible through $121,000 in grant funding awarded by CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, the Murray Education Foundation, and the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA). These funds support the acquisition of specialized mobile equipment for ongoing program operations exclusively in Murray.

Murray Smiles represents a unique multi-sector collaboration between four founding partners with the support of at least two institutions of higher education:

• Murray Education Foundation
• Murray City School District
• CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
• Utah Dental Hygienists' Association
• Salt Lake Community College, Utah College of Dental Hygiene

Bringing Care and Education Directly to the Classroom

Operating 20 hours per week, the Murray Smiles mobile program will travel directly to all district schools. A Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) will lead the program, splitting time between providing needs-based, clinical preventive care—including professional cleanings, digital X-rays, fluoride treatments, and dental sealants—and delivering interactive classroom presentations to educate students on lifelong oral hygiene habits.

"Unaddressed dental pain is a silent driver of school absenteeism and classroom distraction," said Danyelle Evans, Director of Operations at Oral Health Access, LLP. "By partnering with Murray Smiles to place a dedicated dental hygienist in the district year-round, we can meet students right where they are. Through our mobile unit and in-class education, we're empowering kids with the preventive care and knowledge they need to thrive both in the classroom and beyond."

True Access for Every Student

A core pillar of the Murray Smiles program is universal access. Services are open to every enrolled student in the Murray City School District, regardless of financial or insurance status. The program welcomes students who are insured, underinsured, uninsured, or covered by CHIP and Medicaid.

By catching oral health issues early, the initiative aims to prevent painful dental emergencies, provide timely referrals when needed to avoid costly restorative procedures in the future, and significantly reduce missed school days.

“We are thrilled to be selected for such an important and invaluable pilot program,” said Jennifer Covington, Superintendent of Murray City School District. “Our district’s theme this year is ‘Better Together,’ which perfectly describes this partnership. By coming together, we can address the very real challenges our families face—ensuring that a lack of oral healthcare never stands in the way of a student’s ability to focus, learn, and succeed. ” 

Built-In Sustainability

Murray Smiles is designed for every child, regardless of financial background or insurance status. The program welcomes students who are uninsured, covered by CHIP and Medicaid, or private insurance plans. This inclusive approach creates a near self-sustaining funding model: services provided to insured students help subsidize care for those without coverage, ensuring no child is ever turned away. For parents, the mobile clinic offers unparalleled convenience—enabling students to receive routine preventive care during the school day without requiring time away from work or pulling children out of class for extended periods.

A Win-Win Partnership

The partnership with local colleges creates an additional powerful feature. Students enrolled in Salt Lake Community College Dental Hygiene program and Utah College of Dental Hygiene, with additional schools also considering participation, may provide supplemental clinical support and classroom instruction while earning required outside service hours under the supervision of the lead Registered Dental Hygienist. This allows the Murray Smiles program to scale up operations one extra day each week—expanding care to even more children across the district while training the next generation of healthcare professionals.

“Many of the SLCC dental hygiene students enjoy working with children and are excited to apply their skills in a community setting. Opportunities like this help our students gain knowledge and clinical skills, as well as the insights and empathy that come from working with underserved populations,” said Staci Stout, a dental hygiene assistant professor at SLCC. 

About Oral Health Access, LLP

Oral Health Access, LLP is a partnership  of dental hygienists that, along with Evans, also includes Michaele Green as Clinical Coordinator and Staci Stout as Community Coordinator to round out the leadership team collaborating with the Murray Education Foundation, Murray City School District, Utah Dental Hygienists' Association, and Salt Lake Community College. Dedicated to improving community wellness through direct care and education, the organization works to eliminate health disparities and ensure every child has the foundation needed for a healthy, bright smile.

For more information about the Murray Smiles program, scheduling, or supporting the initiative, please contact utahoralhealthaccess@gmail.com or call 801-747-9691