Success Stories
On The Road Again: A Tooth Taxi Update
by Mary Daly, Program Manager, Tooth Taxi
Update Number 21 | 6/02/09 | Merrill, Malin – Klamath Falls
On our furthest journey South we visited the small communities of Merrill and Malin in Klamath County; two miles North of the California border. The week was stormy with dark skies and several thunderstorms. The Tooth Taxi parked at the school in Merrill but treated students from Malin and Lost River High School. Principal, Larita Ongman who oversees both Merrill and Malin schools drove Dr. Heringer and Geneva to Malin to screen students. She also arranged for a bus on Wednesday to transport Malin students down to Merrill for treatment in the Tooth Taxi. Larita continued to transport students in her vehicle to make sure appointments were made. The support of Larita and her staff really made a difference in having a smooth week and contributed to our success. Terri, the secretary at Merrill tracked down paperwork on two students who consistently appear in the office with toothaches. Dr. Heringer treated this brother-sister team, who were both in need of dental care. He was able to complete treatment on one of them; if the secretary hadn’t gone the extra mile we would not have seen these kids who really needed care.
Dr. Heringer and Larita with tooth taxi patient
The Klamath Falls Herald and News visited,
click on the link: www.heraldandnews.com
The team stayed at the Wild Goose Lodge in Merrill, where signs posted in the rooms advised “Don’t clean ducks or geese in the room.” The hotel provided a goose cleaning station in the breezeway. The team frequented Pappy Gander’s for breakfast as the hotel did not provide breakfast.
the Wild Goose Lodge
We received a great thank you from the principal – Malin potatoes! Potatoes are the primary agricultural product for Klamath County. Holly Spruance our OEA Choice Trust rep grew up in Klamath Falls and recalls attending the “spud” festival in Malin and that Malin used to have a great swimming pool and park to visit during the summer.
Malin potatoes
Monument stats:
- 50 students screened
- 37 students treated in the van
- $24,467 value of free dental services provided
Summary
Tooth Taxi, September 2008 - June 5, 2009
- 2945 students screened
- 359 students received oral hygiene education in the classroom
- 1134 students treated in the van
- $734,760 value of free dental services provided.
Next week on the road:
The advent of our summer schedule, we will be at the Oregon Child Development Coalition (OCDC) site in Independence.
Next week’s recap:
Metzger Elementary School in Tigard
Regards, Mary
