Success Stories
On The Road Again: A Tooth Taxi Update
by Mary Daly, Program Manager, Tooth Taxi
Update Number 28 | 7/20/09 | Children’s Community Clinic
“To provide high quality, compassionate health care for children being underserved (uninsured/underinsured), regardless of ethnicity or ability to pay.”
That is the mission for the Children’s Community Clinic in NE Portland where the Tooth Taxi parked the week of July 20th.
The Clinic notified other local agencies of our services and our patient base included children from Albina Head Start and Friends of the Children.
We were joined by volunteers Dr. Erica Waldau from the Creston Clinic and Hygienist Molly Morse who willingly helped out to assist.
our volunteers with their patient that resembles a 70’s rock star
Dramatic visible differences such as those on attached photos of before and after treatment on a patient that Dr. Heringer treated really give the patient a new lease on life for smiling. What a difference!
Michelle Kline has been assisting us on loan from ODS Dental Customer Service. Michelle recently accepted the certified dental assistant position and will be joining us the week of August 10th. Welcome Michelle!
Volunteer Michelle Kline, Happy Tooth Taxi Patient & Dr. Herringer
Children’s Community Clinic stats:
- 47 students screened
- 35 students treated in the van
- $21,731 value of free dental services provided.
Summary
Tooth Taxi, September 2008- July 23, 2009
- 3820 students screened
- 359 students received oral hygiene education in the classroom
- 1363 students treated in the van
- $875,770 value of free dental services provided.
From the kid’s gallery:
“When he pulled those out I didn’t feel anything.”
Patient on nitrous watching cartoons says “this is a dream.”
Patient asks about the cupboards “What’s up there?” As Dr. Heringer shows him the supplies the patient asks “What’s in the sky?” Dr. Heringer replies: “Well, we have a TV up there for you to watch.” The patient replies, “God is up there too.”
It is always a bonus for us to be able to complete treatment on a patient. We keep a running list of patients to follow up in if we are “back in the area.” One young patient identified as such from our visit to Tigard in June was able to make it to the Tooth Taxi for treatment when we were at the MESD Migrant Program at Reynolds Middle School. His Mother also brought him to the Children’s Community Clinic for a 3rd and final appointment. In those three appointments he had a lot of work completed; Mom and son were grateful for our services and left with a visit summary that said “treatment complete, follow up with your dentist in 6 to 12 months.”
Next week on the road:
Our scheduled visit for the Lebanon Boys & Girls club has been cancelled due to a low turnout of students signing up for services (only four). The summer programs are a bit more challenging for us as we are working with short-term programs, inconsistent attendance and transportation issues. It is quite different from being at a school all week and having a captive audience. Our last day at the Children’s Community Clinic only one patient showed for their appointment. We will be brainstorming about ways to structure Tooth Taxi services for next summer. Next week the Tooth Taxi will be in the Portland area for additional servicing.
Next week’s recap:
Oregon Association of School Business Officials (OASBO) Conference in Redmond.
Regards, Mary
