Success Stories
On The Road Again: A Tooth Taxi Update
by Mary Daly, Program Manager, Tooth Taxi
Update Number 38 | 10/05/09 | Roseburg
Rounding out our Southern Oregon regional visits the Tooth Taxi made its last stop in Roseburg. We parked at the edge of the grove at Fir Grove Elementary school where the halls were lined with mosaic murals and the courtyard houses a butterfly garden.
We had several visitors from the community and local dental offices:
*Marilyn Carter Public Health Promotion Manager, Roseburg Public Health
*Dr. Larry Parsons, Superintendent Douglas Co. School District, Jill Weber, Fir Grove Principal and Lance Colley, District Business Manager. We also had teachers from Fir Grove visit the Tooth Taxi.
*Dr. Michael J. Bratland
*Dr. Mark W. Hamm
*Tim Semrau, MTI Mobile Dental Clinic Manager and MTI volunteer Dr. Rob Orr.
*Hanna Vaandering, OEA Vice-President
*Dr. Bill Schuyler – took the team to dinner and offered to treat a couple of middle school students in his office.
Stefanie M Beckley RDH volunteered with us providing cleanings and sealants for the kids. Stefanie is juggling family and studies at U of O working on pre-requisites toward her goal of dental school admission. Stefanie has been practicing hygiene in Roseburg for the past 10 years and the newspaper reporter that covered the Tooth Taxi story, Heather Morse, is her former patient.
Click on the link for the article in the Roseburg News-Review:
One of our patients, Madison, was featured in the paper. When Madison returned for her 2nd visit she didn’t realize she’d made the front page of the “The Umpqua” section. We sent the paper home with her.
From the kid gallery:
“Do I have my silver tooth yet?”
“Now this is a bad mouse.” (referring to Tom & Jerry cartoon)
Dr. “Where’d you get your boots?” “From my Aunt, I’m a special kid I get everything I need.”
“We just saw your sister.” “Yeah, she’s a brat.”
“The faster you get done the quicker you get out.”
Fringe benefits of the job:
Bag of golden delicious apples from a Mom that appreciated our services.
Roseburg stats:
October 5 - October 8, 2009
- 90 students screened
- 0 students received oral hygiene education in the classroom
- 28 students treated in the van
- $23,385 value of free dental services provided.
Summary:
Tooth Taxi, September 4, 2008- October 8, 2009
- 4,740 students screened
- 719 students received oral hygiene education in the classroom
- 1742 students treated in the van
- $1,113,475 value of free dental services provided.
Next week on the road:
Brooklyn Elementary in Baker City
Regards, Mary
