Success Stories
On The Road Again: A Tooth Taxi Update
by Mary Daly, Program Manager, Tooth Taxi
Update Number 36 | 09/21/09 | Grants Pass
The 2009-2010 school year kick off for the Tooth Taxi took place at Riverside Elementary School in Grants Pass. We rolled out two new features of our program – the Tooth Taxi Fluoride Card and sign up for teachers to request 15 minute oral hygiene presentations to their class. Students will receive a fluoride card to track their fluoride treatments and to raise awareness about fluoride and its benefits. James Olcott, our assistant working on the educational component of our program gave oral hygiene instructions throughout the week to over 200 students in grades 1-5.
Michelle Kline our expanded functions dental assistant (EFDA) provided cleanings and sealants for kids who were not in need of restorative care.
Visitors to the Tooth Taxi – The Grants Pass Daily Courier Newspaper (a video that starts after the brief advertisement)
Other visitors: Dr. Miller, Dr. Huddleston. Dr. Kaufman from the Jacksonville-Applegate Rotary club drove the little girl from Griffin Creek Elementary up to Grants Pass for Dr. Heringer to treat the infected tooth diagnosed when the van was parked in Ashland.
Dr. Erickson, a local dentist found out about the Tooth Taxi being in town and was interested in volunteering, we hope to have him on the schedule for our next visit.
From the kid gallery:
Little boy who stuck a pencil into the roof of his mouth asks Dr. Heringer as he is removing remnants of lead, “Are you guys professionals or something?”
Dr. Heringer asks a little girl, “Have you had lunch yet?” and she replies, “No.”
“Well what time is lunch?” asks Dr. Heringer. The girl answers, “I don’t know. I don’t really watch the time; I’m not interested in clocks.”
Grants Pass stats:
September 14 - September 25, 2009
- 92 students screened
- 230 students received oral hygiene education in the classroom
- 40 students treated in the van
- $23,091 value of free dental services provided.
Summary:
Tooth Taxi, September 4, 2008 - September 17, 2009
- 4493 students screened
- 644 students received oral hygiene education in the classroom
- 1681 students treated in the van
- $1,063,815 value of free dental services provided.
Next week on the road:
Fir Grove Elementary in Roseburg
Click here read a brief note about the Tooth Taxi in today’s Oregonian.
Regards, Mary
