Apr, 16 2012 By Mary Daly
THREE MILLION DOLLARS in donated dental services!!!! Our new milestone was reached last week at The Community Transitional School. There is a tremendous amount of mileage in that figure: touching lives, changing smiles, volunteer and sponsor support, giving back, and providing positive dental experiences to children throughout Oregon.
The Community Transitional School that serves Portland's homeless population sits at the busy intersection of NE Killingsworth & NE Cully in Portland. And this week was particularly noisy with PGE jackhammers adding to our generator noise. Holding kids attention for screening was a competition with the PSU literacy program that was also taking place simultaneously in the cafeteria. This small school really utilizes their space to accommodate important resources that benefit their students.
Chaos aside this is a great school for us to visit; as the kids came off the buses and headed into school they asked, "Am I on your schedule?" All were excited to ask if they were going to get to come on the Tooth Taxi today.
Volunteers:
Pre-dent student Dan Reynolds
Pediatric dentist Dr. Michelle Skierkowski and assistant Dana Hendryx-Korpi
Other notes:
75% of students screened needed treatment
25% needed no treatment.
Stats:
Community Transitional School, Portland, April 14-18, 2012
•52 students screened
•0 students received oral hygiene education in the classroom
•32 appointments in the van
•$18,550 value of free dental services provided.
Summary
Tooth Taxi, September 4, 2008 – April 18, 2012
•11,356 students screened
•10,583 students received oral hygiene education in the classroom
•4,955 students treated in the van
•$3,011.775 value of free dental services provided.
From Culver Elementary Principal Garber:
"I get a lump in my throat when I think about what your crew was able to provide for our children what no one else could! I shared the overall numbers and dollar figures with our School Board, they were amazed.
I can't thank you enough for arranging for services for our students! All the love in the world can't fix a decaying tooth- thanks for taking such great care of our most in need students, which shows we all love them!
If I can be of any assistance in singing the Tooth Taxi praises to others, please call on me."
Gratefully,
Stefanie Garber
Culver School District
Elementary Principal & Superintendent
Research To Share
A report on school absenteeism due to dental pain:
The Lund Report – School District's Achievement Compacts will Include Absenteeism
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