Success Stories
On The Road Again: A Tooth Taxi Update
by Mary Daly, Program Manager, Tooth Taxi
Update Number 52 | February 1st- 4th, 2010 | Tillamook
“The Land of Cheese, Trees and Ocean Breeze” as described by Tillamook County, home of the famous Tillamook Cheese Factory and where the countryside is dotted with dairy farms. Tillamook receives an average rainfall of 90” a year (and we experienced that). The Tillamook name is derived from the Indian names Killamook or Calamoxes.
The Tooth Taxi team had a little bit of everything Tillamook has to offer during our week at East Elementary. Students were treated from neighboring Liberty Elementary school and the middle school located across the street.
East Elementary playground is a veritable barnyard: farm equipment designs constructed of metal pipes, coexisting with the newer more modern playground.
Volunteers:
Certified Dental Assistant Stephanie Vogl; ODA Associate Executive Director Cindy Fletcher; and OEA Choice Trust Representative Lisa Mahoney joined us in Tillamook.
Certified Dental Assistant Stephanie Vogl
Cindy with Dr. Heringer talking with his hands
OEA Choice Trust Representative Lisa Mahoney
Visitors:
Tillamook Headlight-Herald newspaper. Dr. Heringer and James were featured in the paper.
From the kid gallery:
Teacher who came to visit said: “This is a Privilege!”
Patient exclaimed: “This is the nicest RV I’ve ever seen!”
Gym teacher came to visit the Tooth Taxi as a student showed him his tooth that had been pulled. The student told the gym teacher how great the laughing gas was.
James about to do his classroom presentation on oral hygiene had a student ask “if he was going to tell them how to get big muscles.”
Other notes:
52% of students screened needed treatment.
48% needed no treatment.
Volunteer graphic designer Kara Hassoun who created our fluoride cards has also created an appointment card for us. The appointment card is used for students who are coming to the Tooth Taxi site from other schools in the district.
Fringe benefits of the job:
The beauty of the Oregon Coast, surrounding forests and pastoral farmland.
East Elem. Stats Jan. 25-29, 2010:
- 58 students screened
- 150 students received oral hygiene education in the classroom
- 24 students treated in the van
- $17,651 value of free dental services provided.
Summary
Tooth Taxi, September 4, 2008- January 29, 2010
- 5547 students screened
- 1569 students received oral hygiene education in the classroom
- 2148 students treated in the van
- $1,418,697 value of free dental services provided.
Next week on the road: Lincoln Elementary in Corvallis