Success Stories
On The Road Again: A Tooth Taxi Update
by Mary Daly, Program Manager, Tooth Taxi
Update Number 14 | 4/13/09 | Springfield
Joanne Broh, district nurse (and blues singer) called us several months ago about visiting one of the Springfield schools. With Joanne’s enthusiasm and the support of the Riverbend school principal, Margot McDonnell we had an eventful week. Students from Gateways alternative high school were also included in our screening and treatment roster. These high school students were very appreciative of the services they received (see att. photo of volunteer dentist Dr. Jay Lamb and assistant Vesta Baker with a student John giving them a thumbs up thank you).
volunteer dentist Dr. Jay Lamb and assistant Vesta Baker with a student John giving them a thumbs up thank you
We also had strong support from the dental community: Volunteer dentists: Dr. Jay Lamb, Dr. Steven E Smith and Dr. Megan Sapp (see att. photo of Nurse Joanne, patient and Dr. Sapp). Dental Assistants: Vesta Baker and pre-dent student Chanel Kim. Hygienists: Cindi Rasmussen (see att. photo) and Heather Ebert who operated the portable chair out of a supply room off the library saw students in need of a cleaning. Pre-dent student Jill Pollard and Oregon Dental Executives Association member Judy Brink were our Johnny-on-the-spot gals. They helped escort students, prepare toothbrush kits for screenings, run supplies to the portable chair and were willing to help in anyway. Our success in Springfield can be attributed to the leadership and support of Riverbend School and the turn-out of volunteer dental professionals.
We received a lot of coverage from the local press. The first was coverage from TV station KMTR, click on the links to see the videos:
The school students were preparing for their wax museum show.
Sacajawea with Dr. Heringer, next to our new sandwich board
We ran the gamut with weather conditions; the week started out with snow and ended with sunshine. Holly Spruance (OEA Choice Trust) volunteered with us on Monday for the screening and then treated the Tooth Taxi team and Principal Margot McDonnell to dinner in her hometown (Eugene).
Springfield rang true to other schools we’ve visited in the valley, it is difficult to see students who have no insurance, most of them have OHP coverage. We did see a few students who had never been to the dentist before, see att. photo of student, who having never been to the dentist before sat in the chair backwards with his feet on the headrest!
Kid quotes: “You can’t grow up with baby teeth.”Springfield stats:
- 110 students screened
- 63 students treated in the van
- $33,914 value of free dental services provided.
Tooth Taxi stats:
September 2008 - April 23, 2009 (no change since last recap)
Summary:
Tooth Taxi, September 2008 – April 17, 2009
- 2059 students screened
- 359 students received oral hygiene education in the classroom
- 907 students treated in the van
- $576,181 value of free dental services provided.
On Friday 4/17, Dr. Heringer and Geneva visited Brooks Elementary School in the Gervais school district to screen all the students in the school for our upcoming visit in the later part of May. We will be experimenting with more pre-screening in the future to see if it helps to reach some of the students who need treatment but continually fall through the cracks (and don’t complete necessary paperwork).
Next week’s recap:
North Lake School in Silver Lake, OR
Regards, Mary
