Success Stories
On The Road Again: A Tooth Taxi Update
by Mary Daly, Program Manager, Tooth Taxi
Update Number 42 | November 2, 2009 | Gates
The Tooth Taxi was hosted by Gates Elementary School in Gates, part of the Santiam Canyon school district. This area is unique in that Gates is in both Marion and Linn counties. Students were seen from Gates and neighboring Mill City schools: Mill City Middle School and Santiam High School. Kristin Holly, with Linn-Benton-Lincoln ESD and family support liaison for Santiam Canyon, accompanied Dr. Heringer and Michelle to all the schools on Monday to screen students.
Prior to our visit local hygienist Elizabeth Reeser visited classrooms at Gates to talk about the Tooth Taxi, what we do and reminded students to get their forms in. Elizabeth volunteered with us on the Tooth Taxi last year and planned to join us again but swine flu swept through her family and kept her at home.
One little girl was treated by the Tooth Taxi last year and was happy to see us again. It is great to see first hand the rewards of providing a positive dental experience for the kids.
repeat visitor
From the kid gallery:
Dr. Heringer, “Have you got a bit of a cold?” Patient, “I’m not cold.”
Fringe benefits of the job:
Visiting Santiam Canyon in the fall, gorgeous colors and sunny days.
Gates stats:
November 2 - 5, 2009
- 72 students screened
- 75 students received oral hygiene education in the classroom
- 39 students treated in the van
- $23,605 value of free dental services provided.
Summary:
Tooth Taxi, September 4, 2008- November 5, 2009
- 5067 students screened
- 1139 students received oral hygiene education in the classroom
- 1923 students treated in the van
- $1,229,822 value of free dental services provided.
Other Notes:
I gave a presentation at the Oregon Child Development Coalition (OCDC) Health Services Advisory Committee annual meeting last week. The Tooth Taxi visited 7 of their 12 county sites last summer, screened over 800 children and provided over $200,000 of free dental care. The group was very appreciative of our services and shared ideas they learned from our screenings that help them to educate parents about dental health.
Looking to remember or honor someone for the upcoming holidays? Consider the Tooth Taxi Library Pack as a gift.
Sponsored books will be delivered to schools that we visit – James will offer a book to teachers in classrooms where he provides oral hygiene presentations and any left in the pack of 4 will be given to the school library. It’s a great way to support the oral health education component of the Tooth Taxi.
Next week on the road:
Colonel Wright Elementary in The Dalles
Regards, Mary
