All Aboard the Tooth Taxi
On The Road Again: A Tooth Taxi Update
by Mary Daly, Program Manager, Tooth Taxi
Update Number 69 | May 24, 2010 | Lakeview and Burns
The drive from Fields to Lakeview was stunning: snow capped mountain peaks, rock formations and beautiful valleys. A short jaunt through Nevada, driving over passes 6,000 feet in elevation, a cattleguard was our official state- line crossing into Nevada.
Lakeview, Oregon’s Outback, nick-named the “Tallest Town in Oregon” sits at an elevation of 4,800 feet. The Goose Lake Valley settled in 1869 was a popular area for Irish and Basque immigrants who came to herd sheep. Today Lakeview has two superfund sites - closed uranium mines, and an active perlite mine. Lakeview is known as one of the best places in North America for hang gliding and paragliding.
We served two adjacent elementary schools in Lakeview: Fremont and Hay. Everyone was so appreciative of our visit. Often we were stopped by teachers in the hall and thanked for coming. Taking a patient back to class, the teacher told me that the parents were SO appreciative and grateful for the services we provided for their children.
The secretary said, “Our staff has been so impressed. We can’t believe that nobody came back from the dentist crying.”
When picking up a student for their appointment, the teacher told me “they (students) all want to go because the kids got toothbrushes (at the screening).”
Adel, a rural community and a one-hour drive from Lakeview, wanted to participate as well. A teacher brought three students over for assessment and we treated the one student in need.
A local artist had been in residence for the week making masks with the students. They all gathered in the gym with their masks for a parade. The masks were very creative and colorful! The gym was also the assembly area for James our assistant to give two oral hygiene presentations to all the students in the school. Each school received a Tooth Taxi Library Pack.
Dr. Goger and I left Lakeview at 27 degrees with snow on Saturday a.m. The rest of the team weathered over the weekend in Lakeview, exploring and looking for sunstones in the cold and blustery weather.
Volunteers:
DFO Board member and frequent volunteer from Albany, Dr. Mike Goger, continued with us on our travels throughout Southeastern Oregon. Dr. Goger and James treated a young girl who returned later with a large thank you note for them - “best patient”.
Dr. Goger’s former college roommate Dr. Bob Bomengen, MD lives in Lakeview. Dr. Bomengen helped spread the word recruiting students prior to our arrival and visited the Tooth Taxi when we were at Hay Elementary.
Dr.’s Goger & Bomengen
Dr. Sabin and staff in Lakeview offered to volunteer on the Tooth Taxi but we were running a bit ahead of schedule so it didn’t happen on this trip. We hope to have them join us next time.
Visitors:
Principal Will Cahill brought by John Henry, formerly of Delta Dental Alaska.
Stephanie and Dr. Heringer treated a young patient and they also received a thank you note from their patient.
At the end of our visit, Principal Will Cahill came on board to personally thank everyone and express his appreciation for all the work we have done. The Tooth Taxi was discussed at the Lakeview school board meeting and very favorable comments were shared.
Burns:
With the Tooth Taxi back in Harney County at the county seat in Burns, the team finished out the week at Henry L. Slater Elementary school. Established in the 1880’s, Burns was named for the Scottish poet Robert Burns. In 2009 he was voted by the Scottish public as being the Greatest Scot!
From the kid gallery:Patient: “I brushed my teeth last night; I used that turn-y thing you gave me” (the timer).
“I got my first silver tooth!”
James taking a kindergartener back to class, “So what are you going to do when you get home from school today?” Patient: “I’m gonna cuddle with my mommy.”
Chase a 2nd grader from Drewsey, is raising a 6 week old orphaned calf on the bottle. He told us when the calf becomes a bull he’s gonna ride him.
Patient: “How did you get that tooth out yesterday without making me cry?”
Dr. Heringer walking a boy back to class when a teacher asked, “Tommy did you survive the Tooth Taxi?”
“I got my teeth pulled and it didn’t hurt!” Tommy replied.
Realities from the road:
Patient: “My lip is numb.”
Dr. Heringer: “Have you ever had your lip numb before?”
Patient: “Ya, my lip and my head.”
Dr. Heringer: “Your head?”
Patient: “Ya, my cousin threw a log at my head.”
A young patient told us his Mom is a nurse at the prison; “One of the prisoners had a big wart on his butt!”
While Dr. Heringer and a patient were walking down the hall to the Tooth Taxi, a teacher said, “Happy birthday Tyler.”
Dr. Heringer: “Are you going to have a birthday party tonight?”
Patient: “No, not till June 10th.”
Dr. Heringer: ”Why then?”
Patient: “We don’t have enough money I think.”
Other notes:
Lakeview:
- 49% of students screened needed treatment.
- 51% needed no treatment.
Burns:
- 35% of students screened needed treatment.
- 65% needed no treatment.
- Tooth Taxi miles driven: 270 - Fields to Lakeview, Lakeview to Burns, and Burns to Bend for weekend storage.
Fringe benefits of the job:
Amazing countryside, snow capped peaks, beautiful vistas, endless sage covered landscape, wildlife, crossing in and out of Nevada (it was sunny!)
Stats: Fremont/HaySchool, Lakeview, May 20-25, 2010
- 71 students screened
- 282 students received oral hygiene education in the classroom
- 42 students treated in the van
- $24,211 value of free dental services provided.
Stats: Henry L Slater School Burns, May 26-27, 2010
- 52 students screened
- 63 students received oral hygiene education in the classroom
- 16 students treated in the van
- $12,772 value of free dental services provided.
Summary
Tooth Taxi, September 4, 2008- May 27, 2010
- 6632 students screened
- 3163 students received oral hygiene education in the classroom
- 2614 students treated in the van
- $1,703,648 value of free dental services provided.