The Tioga Smiles Dental Program, operated by Tioga County Public Health, continues to bring no-cost dental care to students across the region, including those in the Spencer-Van Etten Central School District. The mobile dental unit provides services such as screenings, cleanings, fluoride treatments, sealants, and more.
During the 2024-25 school year, 92 students from S-VE participated in the program:
26 students at S-VE Middle School
13 students at S-VE High School
53 students at S-VE Elementary School
Services provided to S-VE students included:
90 dental screenings/exams
82 fluoride treatments
48 cleanings
40 sealants
56 restorations (fillings)
3 extractions
Of those students, 39 had a history of decay and 44 had active decay at the time of service.
The Tioga Smiles Dental Van will again be on the road for the 2025-26 school year, visiting schools across the county. Below is the full schedule:
Sept. 5–25, 2025: Waverly Middle/High Schools
Sept. 26–Oct. 23, 2025: Elm Street Elementary
Oct. 24–Nov. 6, 2025: Lincoln Street Elementary
Nov. 7–Dec. 18, 2025: Tioga Central Schools
Dec. 19, 2025–Jan. 1, 2026: HHS Building – Owego
Jan. 2–22, 2026: Apalachin Elementary/WLC
Jan. 23–Feb. 12, 2026: Owego Elementary
Feb. 13–26, 2026: Owego Middle/High School
Feb. 27–March 5, 2026: Newark Valley High School
March 6–April 2, 2026: Newark Valley Middle/NTH
April 3–30, 2026: Candor Central Schools
May 1–7, 2026: Spencer-Van Etten High School
May 8–21, 2026: Spencer-Van Etten Middle School
May 22–June 18, 2026: Spencer-Van Etten Elementary
June 19–Sept. 4, 2026: HHS Building – Owego
All children in Tioga County are eligible for the program. Insurance may be billed, but there is no out-of-pocket cost to families. To enroll a child, families can complete the electronic form at: Tioga Smiles Enrollment Form
In addition to dental services, Tioga Smiles offers oral health education and hygiene supplies for classrooms. Staff members are available for in-school presentations. For information or to request a visit, call 607-972-7552 or email tiogasmiles@tiogacountyny.gov.
Tooth decay remains one of the most common childhood diseases, yet it is almost entirely preventable. Tioga Smiles continues to help students stay healthy and ready to learn through accessible and preventive dental care.