Success Stories
On The Road Again: A Tooth Taxi Update
by Mary Daly, Program Manager, Tooth Taxi
Update Number 13 | 4/7/09 | Jefferson
The Tooth Taxi returned to the Willamette Valley, visiting Jefferson Elementary School in Jefferson. Secretary to the Principal, Karen Bateman and Dan Easdale, Kidco Headstart Family Advocate did a fantastic job coordinating our visit, not only with the students but with the community at large. Nancy Hamby from Hamby Real Estate arranged our lunches for the week. It is the first site visit where the community businesses have provided lunch, a welcome treat and great way to introduce more people to our mission.
The Headstart located on school grounds provided our lunch the first day (it was one of those fleeting spring weather days) we dined on benches in the school garden amongst clusters of blooming daffodils. Jeff Street from Sterling Savings Bank visited the Tooth Taxi to pick up our lunch order for the following day. Thursday the school treated us to lunch, Friday the Tooth Taxi team and volunteers went to the community center for a potluck lunch. They were escorted to the front of the line and were given a round of applause when they left.
With the Headstart located right at the school we were able to treat some younger patients. As I’ve mentioned before screening happens in all locations.
Dr. Heringer and patient, knee-to-knee exam on a sibling of a student
We had several volunteers join us in Jefferson: Jodi Loper from the Salem Boys & Girls Club helped with screening on the first day. PCC Hygiene students, Sierra Bean and LuAnn Gembala provided hygiene services for a day. Anne Thompson, Consultant from Watson Wyatt who is completing her Masters in Public Health, Health Management and Policy spent a morning with us helping out and learning more about our program. Other general volunteers: LeAnn Traylor, Uni-Serv Consultant and Chanel Kim, pre-dent student. Tiffany Neufeldt RDH and her Mom, assistant Peggy Luke were troopers trying out our new and improved system with the portable hygiene unit. The chair was set up in the school and they provided cleanings for students who did not need to see the dentist. Dr. Lisa Yarborough a graduate fellow in pediatric dentistry at OHSU who will be starting her residency in July, and Toni Cashman dental assistant from Salem rounded out our volunteers for the week.
The local newspaper the Jefferson Review published an article prior to our visit and visited us while we were at the school for another article and photo shoot. The paper does not publish on-line.
We were also able to continue treatment on an Aumsville middle school student that was treated in January by volunteer dentist Dr. Chris Walker. Dr. Walker suggested that if we were in the area again this student could use additional treatment. The student had another session on the Tooth Taxi with Dr. Yarborough, yet still has more work that can
be done.
Principal Michael Knudson visited the Tooth Taxi for a tour and free toothbrush along with several other teachers from the elementary and high schools. One teacher that came to visit said he’d seen all the happy kids that came from the van. An e-mail that OEA Choice Trust board member Dennis Higginbotham (who previously taught at Jefferson) shared with us: “I received an e-mail from Mark Manning, a friend of mind at Jefferson High. He stopped by the taxi today and was very impressed with the facilities and the staff. He said they spoke with him a long time AND they gave him a toothbrush and lighted mirror.”
Principal Michael Knudson visited the Tooth Taxi
Student quote gallery:
“I didn’t know I had a silver tooth, cool, just like my friends.” Dr. Heringer: “I just gave it
to you.”
“Sometimes if you brush a silver tooth really good it’ll be shiny.”
Jefferson stats:
- 96 students screened
- 47 students treated in the van
- $27,422 value of free dental services provided.
Summary:
Tooth Taxi, September 2008 - April 10, 2009
- 1949 students screened
- 359 students received oral hygiene education in the classroom
- 844 students treated in the van
- $542,267 value of free dental services provided.
Next week on the road: North Lake School in Silver Lake OR
Next week's recap: Riverbend Elementary, Springfield
Regards, Mary
