Success Stories
On The Road Again: A Tooth Taxi Update
by Mary Daly, Program Manager, Tooth Taxi
Update Number 41 | October 26, 2009 | Irrigon
Irrigon first grade teacher and former Morrow County Education Association President Marilyn Post attended a presentation delivered to the Uni-serv Council by Holly Spruance with our Sponsor OEA Choice Trust early in 2009. Marilyn contacted me soon after about a Tooth Taxi visit to Irrigon. In March when the Tooth Taxi was in Hermiston I drove up to Irrigon to visit with Marilyn and go over our business model and requirements from the school. Irrigon, situated on the Columbia River, population 1,700 has high unemployment and two elementary schools without dental programs.
The Tooth Taxi parked at A.C.Houghton Elementary and served students from Irrigon Elementary as well. It was an exciting week for the kids with Halloween and pumpkin carving contests! The Team on site: Dr. Heringer, Michelle Kline and James Olcott were asked to be the 2009 pumpkin carving judges.
The judges with the winning pumpkin entries
New volunteers to the Tooth Taxi, Dr. Loc Vuu and assistant Amber Corona made the drive from Pendleton to help treat patients.
First time volunteers with their “skeleton” patient
First time volunteers with the Tooth Taxi team
James provided oral hygiene education to over 100 students in 1st – 3rd grades. Our Expanded Functions Dental Assistant (EFDA) Michelle Kline has made significant contributions to the number of students that receive cleanings and sealants providing this service to kids without decay.
James in the classroom
The team had great support from AC Houghton teachers and staff. One of the teachers who visited the van became emotional when she realized the Tooth Taxi mission. We continue our weekly invitation to teachers and staff to visit the Tooth Taxi, it helps them to see what we do and have a better understanding of treatment their students receive. And we still give free toothbrushes to our visitors!
*Email note from Melody Tovey –secretary at AC Houghton:
Thanks for everything. It was awesome and even the children that didn’t directly benefit from services still were able to see that going to the dentist is not a scary thing. Several children commented on how kind the dentist and staff were. We appreciate all of you!
Visitors:
Phyllis Danielson (Assistant Superintendent), Sherrie Lennox (Counselor), Dave Fiore (Uni-Serv Consultant) and Brenda Kittleson (1st grade teacher).
The East Oregonian newspaper, click on the link for the article: http://eastoregonian.com
From the kid gallery:
“I have a tooth that’s falling down.”
During a hygiene presentation:
James-“So why do we have baby teeth?”
Student - “So we can make money.”
Realities from the road:
A family we reached - a very poor family with 7 kids in the household under 21 living in the Irrigon area. None of the children had coats and the only warm meals they eat are at the school. The Tooth Taxi treated three of the children and provided $3,500.00 in dental services to them. The tooth taxi has undoubtedly changed the lives of those kids.
Fringe benefits of the job:
Judging pumpkins!
Irrigon stats:
October 26- October 29, 2009
- 90 students screened
- 120 students received oral hygiene education in the classroom
- 41 students treated in the van
- $26,632 value of free dental services provided.
Summary:
Tooth Taxi, September 4, 2008- October 29, 2009
- 4995 students screened
- 1064 students received oral hygiene education in the classroom
- 1884 students treated in the van
- $1,188,160 value of free dental services provided.
Regards, Mary