While we press teachers to do better in educating our children and preparing them for the real world, Ohioans are also expecting schools to fill nearly every other role for some kids, too.

Schools are their safe haven, the place where they will be fed — it might even be the only place where they can get the shoes or warm coats they need.

Now advocates are pushing for schools to be a place where those students can receive dental care, as well.

“What we’re seeing every day in the hospital is that these children at young ages have dental disease,” Dr. Kim Hammersmith told the Ohio Capital Journal. “We have had a 2-year-old coming in with 10 to 15 cavities.”

Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s school-based dental program brings, with parental consent, routine dental care.

Ohio Department of Health data from 2017 showed seven of the 11 counties in which children had the worst oral health were in Appalachia: Coshocton, Carroll, Highland, Brown, Pike, Scioto and Meigs.

There is a shortage of both funding and trained pediatric dentists to carry out the work, if schools are seeking to include dental care. But it is important districts work toward making it happen.

It does leave one piece of the puzzle untouched, of course. Parental/cultural buy-in may be difficult to obtain, and it may be hard to convince families to perform the necessary hygiene and maintenance at home. Schools must do their best.