A person’s mouth can say a lot about them.

After a thorough examination of a patient’s mouth, dentists can identify signs of heart disease, hypertension, diabetes inside teeth and gums.

They can also be tipped off to an even more devastating condition, that plagues many young people in the region— substance abuse.

Starting this fall, dental workers with the Van Buren/Cass District Health Department will be able to help youth demonstrating signs of tobacco, alcohol or drug abuse seek treatment for their problems. The organization’s new program, PRIME for Life, will provide motivational intervention teenagers, 12 or 13 years of age, to help prevent further problems in such a critical stage of their development.

“It will help them make better choices in their life,” said Administrator Jeff Elliott. “If you feel good, your life will be better. But it’s hard to get on the right path sometimes, and these kids need a lot of support.”

During the course of the next several months, staff with the department’s substance abuse services will receive facilitator training for the new program, which is scheduled to begin in November or December. In addition, receptionists at all three of their dental clinics, including their Dowagiac location, will be trained to distribute program materials and provide patient referrals.

The PRIME for Life program is based off a model used by health departments nationwide, Elliot said. The state recently rewarded their administration with $31,000 worth of grant money to make the program’s creation possible, Elliot said.

“We’re excited to be one of the few entities in southwestern Michigan to receive this kind of funding,” Elliot said.

Patients will be referred to the program by dental clinic staff, with the selected patients placed on a schedule to attend if deemed necessary by their self-assessments. At the conclusion of the program, the client may be referred to the department’s treatment services for additional help.

“Our goal, as a health department, is to give patients referrals and access to providers,” Elliot said. “There are a lot of places in Cass and Van Buren counties that people don’t know they can get treatment from.”

With their new Dowagiac facility only weeks away from completion, Elliot and other members of the department’s staff are excited about the opportunity to assist their 21,000 active dental patients without the use of drill or floss.

“I think we’re always excited about any new effort, any new idea, that can we follow to improve the lives of the people in the community,” Elliot said. “These kids need a lot of help, assistance and guidance.”