Success Stories
On The Road Again: A Tooth Taxi Update
by Mary Daly, Program Manager, Tooth Taxi
Update Number 45 | November 23, 2009 | Gervais
Sent: Friday, June 05, 2009 9:23 AM
Good Morning First I would like to start by thanking you for the wonderful opportunity to have the Tooth Taxi at Gervais School District and for the exceptional service Dr. Heringer and his staff provided to our students. When we last spoke you offered some days to our district in November (23,24,25), I spoke to my supervisor and some of the administrators and if those days are still available we would like to have them. Even though they are conference days we will work hard at getting students here. The consensus has been to have the Tooth Taxi located in Gervais since the majority of students live in town. Please let me know if days are still available and if we will be able to host Tooth Taxi.
Thank you
Maricruz CamachoHome School Coordinator - Gervais School District
And that is how we ended up at Gervais Middle School Thanksgiving week even though school was closed. Maricruz managed the schedule, organized transportation and kept her office open as a waiting room for parents. While she was on hand for the Tooth Taxi during the day she scheduled her parent conferences for the evening. This level of support and commitment from our site partners greatly adds to the success of our mission. Thanks Maricruz!
Visitors:Salem dentist Dr. Dan Saucy accompanied State Representative Betty Komp to the Tooth Taxi for a tour. Representative Komp’s district encompasses the region of the Willamette Valley including North Salem, Gervais, Brooks and Woodburn.
Dr. Dan Saucy, State Representative Betty Komp, along with Dr. Herringer & School Superintendent Rick Hensel
Volunteer:
Julie Marten, Coordinator of Membership Records for the Oregon Dental Association spent time with us and helped prepare supplies for future school visits.
Realities of the Road:
We received phone call from a Mom requesting information on the possibility of her son receiving treatment. Her son, Haydin is a home schooled 4th grader and has had trouble sleeping due to a severe toothache. We told her that we would screen Haydin if she could bring him by the school. We screened and treated Haydin over lunch, extracting two baby teeth and an abscessed 1st permanent molar. This is a great example of our mission and goals and addressing an emergent need. Mom was very grateful to say the least.
Gervais stats:
November 23 - 25, 2009
- 2 students screened
- 0 students received oral hygiene education in the classroom
- 22 students treated in the van
- $11,351 value of free dental services provided.
Summary:
Tooth Taxi, September 4, 2008- November 25, 2009
- 5,249 students screened
- 1259 students received oral hygiene education in the classroom
- 2026 students treated in the van
- $1,280,213 value of free dental services provided.
Other Notes:
This was the final week for our assistant Michelle Kline. Michelle left her adventures of the road for a position in a private practice near her home in SE Portland. Thank you Michelle for your commitment to the kids!
Dr. Heringer, Tooth Taxi Patient & Michelle Kline
Next week on the road:
Lot Whitcomb Elementary School in Milwaukie
Regards, Mary
