All Aboard the Tooth Taxi
On The Road Again: A Tooth Taxi Update
by Mary Daly, Program Manager, Tooth Taxi
Update Number 64 | April 20, 2010 | Maupin
Central Oregon’s blue skies greeted the Tooth Taxi team as they arrived in Maupin and parked the Tooth Taxi on the elementary school basketball court (see att. photo). The perfect spot - near the building and out of the way of the school buses. Maupin, in Wasco County is located on the Deschutes River which provides an economic base through fishing and rafting. Rooms at the hotel were equipped with 4’ tall “wader dryers”, a first for our accommodations.
Students were seen from the high school as well and with the older students come piercings…
Dr. Heringer, student with pierced lip and Tooth Taxi assistant Stephanie.
From the kid gallery:
Patient: “Are you going to clean my teeth?” Dr. Heringer, “Yes but you need some fillings too.” Patient: “Yeah! I get out of Sex Ed.” (7th grade girl)
Middle school patient looking at his visit summary that shows services provided and value: “$879.00, wow, that’s better than having a Safeway club card.”
Other notes:
- 43% of students screened needed treatment.
- 57% needed no treatment.
- Tooth Taxi miles driven: 198
Fringe benefits of the job:
Hotel located on the banks of the Deschutes River.
Osprey sighting.
Stats: Maupin Elementary School, April 20-April 22, 2010:
- 35 students screened
- 64 students received oral hygiene education in the classroom
- 19 students treated in the van
- $11,535 value of free dental services provided.
Summary
Tooth Taxi, September 4, 2008- April 22, 2010
- 6268 students screened
- 2342 students received oral hygiene education in the classroom
- 2433 students treated in the van
- $1,604,549 value of free dental services provided.