Site search
sponsored by
News
Sports
ENLARGE
Dental assistant James Olcott explains treatment to Felicia Sprague Tuesday after her daughter, 5-year-old Madison, visited the Tooth Taxi at Fir Grove Elementary School in Roseburg. The 38-foot modified RV is in town providing free dental care this week.
Little mouths got a big gift this week as the Tooth Taxi rolled into town. The colorful, 38-foot modified RV acts as a mobile dental office as it travels the state to provide free care to uninsured and underinsured Oregon children.
About 35 children, grades K-12, will have received treatments, cleanings, preventive measures and education on oral health before the van pulls away from Fir Grove Elementary School on Thursday.
The Dental Foundation of Oregon partners with OEA Choice Trust and Oregon Dental Service Companies to address the growing problem of declining oral health in the state's children. According to a 2007 survey by the Oregon Department of Human Services, dental decay now affects one in every three children — numbers that are only expected to grow in the recession.
“Oral health is really important because oral disease is preventable,” program manager Mary Daly said.
Educating students and giving them a positive experience with a dentist are among the group's goals. Monitors play cartoons above the patients' heads as they are treated, and each patient gets a sticker and prize before leaving.
“It is good to be a positive influence,” said Dr. Weston W. Heringer Jr. after patching up a few cavities for kindergartner Madison Sprague. “You want kids to have a nice experience, but get as much done as you can.”
Heringer, a resident of Portland, has been a pediatric dentist for 32 years and has been traveling with the bus for more than a year. He is a staple of the traveling crew, which includes Daly and two assistants. Organizers welcome local professionals to volunteer van time to maximize the number of children helped.
Yesterday, dental hygienist Stephanie Beckley of Roseburg provided her services for cleanings.
“I think people should always help,” Beckley said. “There is a need around here and if everyone does a little bit, good things happen.”
Pam Bonner-Davis' four children, ages 10 to 17, were all screened by the Tooth Taxi. She brought a bag of apples to the staff to show her appreciation for their care.
“They are really nice to do this,” Bonner-Davis said. “He (Heringer) doesn't have to, but if you want to be special, you do special things.”
Bonner-Davis said the preventive care helps her a lot because it is not as much of a financial strain if bigger problems were to arise.
It is important to prevent tooth decay early, Heringer said. Even in baby teeth, a small problem can quickly become a large one. If a baby tooth decays to the point it needs to be extracted, adult teeth might not properly align as they grow.
Van volunteers fix as much as possible while attempting to provide a positive experience.
For 5-year-old Sprague, they seemed to get it just right, filling three cavities but leaving her all smiles.
“My lip feels funny,” she said.
• You can reach reporter Heather Morse at 957-4208 or by e-mail at hmorse@nrtoday.com.
About 35 children, grades K-12, will have received treatments, cleanings, preventive measures and education on oral health before the van pulls away from Fir Grove Elementary School on Thursday.
The Dental Foundation of Oregon partners with OEA Choice Trust and Oregon Dental Service Companies to address the growing problem of declining oral health in the state's children. According to a 2007 survey by the Oregon Department of Human Services, dental decay now affects one in every three children — numbers that are only expected to grow in the recession.
“Oral health is really important because oral disease is preventable,” program manager Mary Daly said.
Educating students and giving them a positive experience with a dentist are among the group's goals. Monitors play cartoons above the patients' heads as they are treated, and each patient gets a sticker and prize before leaving.
“It is good to be a positive influence,” said Dr. Weston W. Heringer Jr. after patching up a few cavities for kindergartner Madison Sprague. “You want kids to have a nice experience, but get as much done as you can.”
Heringer, a resident of Portland, has been a pediatric dentist for 32 years and has been traveling with the bus for more than a year. He is a staple of the traveling crew, which includes Daly and two assistants. Organizers welcome local professionals to volunteer van time to maximize the number of children helped.
Yesterday, dental hygienist Stephanie Beckley of Roseburg provided her services for cleanings.
“I think people should always help,” Beckley said. “There is a need around here and if everyone does a little bit, good things happen.”
Pam Bonner-Davis' four children, ages 10 to 17, were all screened by the Tooth Taxi. She brought a bag of apples to the staff to show her appreciation for their care.
“They are really nice to do this,” Bonner-Davis said. “He (Heringer) doesn't have to, but if you want to be special, you do special things.”
Bonner-Davis said the preventive care helps her a lot because it is not as much of a financial strain if bigger problems were to arise.
It is important to prevent tooth decay early, Heringer said. Even in baby teeth, a small problem can quickly become a large one. If a baby tooth decays to the point it needs to be extracted, adult teeth might not properly align as they grow.
Van volunteers fix as much as possible while attempting to provide a positive experience.
For 5-year-old Sprague, they seemed to get it just right, filling three cavities but leaving her all smiles.
“My lip feels funny,” she said.
• You can reach reporter Heather Morse at 957-4208 or by e-mail at hmorse@nrtoday.com.
