Apr, 23 2012 By Mary Daly
A.C. Houghton Elementary in Irrigon, sited along the mighty Columbia River hosted the Tooth Taxi for a second visit since our first one in 2009. In this rural agriculture community families appreciate the services provided for their children without having to travel to visit a dentist.
Visitors:
Paul Amundsen, Development Director of Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children, the Foundation of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.
Ben Garrett, Vidicom Inc., and cameramen, Corky and Jay, were all on-site to film the Tooth Taxi program as part of a presentation for the annual AAPD meeting later this month. The Tooth Taxi has been a fortunate grant recipient from Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children so we were excited to be able to share our model first-hand.
From the kid gallery:
"When my Aunt comes I'm getting a shark tooth necklace."
Do you have to brush your uvula? (3rd grader)
What happens if you don't brush your chewers?
In a class presentation a little boy asked "Can I have one of those bookmarks for my mother? Her birthday is today."
Realities from the road:
"My mom had her first baby at 15."
"5 monies!" (patient telling us what they got for their missing teeth)
Other notes:
60% of students screened needed treatment
40% needed no treatment.
Stats:
A.C.Houghton Elementary School, Irrigon, Mon-Thurs., April 23-26, 2012
•50 students screened
•160 students received oral hygiene education in the classroom
•31 appointments in the van
•$19,413 value of free dental services provided.
Community Transitional School, Portland, Friday, April 27, 2012
•2 students screened
•0 students received oral hygiene education in the classroom
•6 appointments in the van
•$1,862 value of free dental services provided.
Summary
Tooth Taxi, September 4, 2008 – April 27, 2012
•11,408 students screened
•10,743 students received oral hygiene education in the classroom
•4,992 students treated in the van
•$3,033.050 value of free dental services provided.
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