All Aboard the Tooth Taxi
On The Road Again: A Tooth Taxi Update
by Mary Daly, Program Manager, Tooth Taxi
Update Number 54 | February 5, 2010 | Give Kids a Smile – State Capitol
The ADA's annual Give Kids A Smile® (GKAS) is always the first Friday in February and kicks off National Children's Dental Health Month. 2010 marks the eighth GKAS providing education, preventative and restorative care to low-income children who do not have access to care.
Give Kids A Smile® activities also highlight for policy makers the ongoing challenges that low-income children face in accessing dental care. Parking the Tooth Taxi at the Capitol steps is a great way to reach State Representatives, sharing the DFO mission and building awareness about the plight of children’s oral health across the State.
In coordination with Marion-Polk Dental Society the Tooth Taxi made its second annual visit to the State Capitol in Salem for Give Kids A Smile®. Jodi Loper, Health Services Coordinator for the Boys & Girls Club of Salem arranged for children to be seen on the Tooth Taxi. Dr. Weston Heringer, III worked with Jodi at the Boys & Girls Club Dental Clinic to screen children in need of dental treatment. Tooth Taxi staff James Olcott helped to coordinate care.
Jodi Loper and Elisa Scofield (Dr. Jay Scofield's wife) from the Salem Boys & Girls Club escorted patients back and forth to the Tooth Taxi in their new van (the purchase supported by a grant from DFO and other organizations). Burkhart Dental Supply and the Salem Boys & Girls Club provided lunch for all the Tooth Taxi staff and volunteers.
Volunteers:
A first for the Tooth Taxi to have both pediatric Dr. Heringers on board: Dr. Weston W. Heringer, Jr. (dad) and Dr. Weston W. Heringer, III (son).
Dr. Weston W. Heringer, III (son) and Dr. Weston W. Heringer, Jr. (dad)
The Heringers were assisted by Salem dental assistant volunteers Debbie Davis and Kristen Holen who work for Dr. Nadia Winstead.
dental assistant volunteers Debbie Davis and Kristen Holen
Visitors:
We had several visitors to the Tooth Taxi. A big thank you to DFO Executive Director Charlie LaTourette and OEA Choice Trust Representatives Holly Spruance and Lisa Mahoney for staffing the front table outside the van, greeting visitors and sharing the Tooth Taxi mission.
OEA Choice Trust Representatives Holly Spruance and Lisa Mahoney
Salem Statesman Journal for photos (no article): http://www.statesmanjournal.com
TOOTH TAXI SUPPORTERS:
Steve McNannay, OEA Choice Trust Executive Director, Nancy Heringer
DENTAL PROFESSIONALS:
Bill Zepp, ODA Executive Director
Dr. Rick Asai, ODA President
Christina Swartz , ODA Coordinator, Public & Professional Education
Noel Moran and Susan Watson, ODS Dental Professional Relations
Jessica Minahan Dental Coordinator Salem Keizer School District
GOVERNMENT VISITORS:
State Rep. Mike Schaufler, Happy Valley District Rep. Schaufler's wife is dentist Dr. Frances Sunseri
State Rep. Mike Schaufler & Dr. Heringer
State Rep. Bill Kennemer , Clackamas Co. District w/wife Cherie McGinnis
Alan Tresidder & Niki Terzieff , ODA Lobbyists
Laura Alexander, Lobbyist , Tigard OR
Patrick Sieng, Chief of Staff for Rep. Jean Cowan, Central Oregon Coast (Patrick used to be Dr. Heringer Jr’s patient)
GENERAL:
Aaron Harada, Communications Coordinator for Salem Keizer School District
Amy L. Smith, Willamette University student
Misty McCord, Mrs. Southern Oregon International
Kitti Keitges, Headstart Representative from Grants Pass
Randy C. Lawrence, instructional assist for 12- 21 yr olds at Community Transition School in the Salem-Keizer School District.
Tom Thornton Retired State Trooper, Security at the State Capitol
David Brown, State Capitol employee in Shipping & Receiving
Brett Hamilton, Tobacco Free coalition of Oregon
Al and Jill Holen from Fall City, WA, volunteer dental assistant Kristen Holen’parents
Bill Meier, volunteer dental assistant Debbie Davis’ father
Other Notes:
Dr. Heringer, III's first 3 patients were a family of triplets.
Dr. Heringer Jr. treated a patient with an abscessed tooth that had fenestrated with the root tip protruding through the gums.
Tooth Taxi assistant James Olcott presented Jodi Loper with a Tooth Taxi Library book pack for the Boys & Girls Club dental clinic.
From the kid gallery:
“Is this gum?” patient to Dr. Heringer Jr. when his teeth were being polished w/bubble gum flavor prophy paste.
GKAS Stats Feb. 5, 2010:
- 21 students screened
- 12 students treated in the van
- $6,563 value of free dental services provided.
Summary
Tooth Taxi, September 4, 2008- February 5, 2010
- 5634 students screened
- 1609 students received oral hygiene education in the classroom
- 2179 students treated in the van
- $1,441,611 value of free dental services provided.
GKAS® team with patients outside the Tooth Taxi