The University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry in Lincoln
saw 125 pediatric patients in one day Nov. 2 as they hosted the Bright
Smiles, Bright Futures Dental Day event to help address disparities in
oral health. The children were from the Grand Island, Beatrice and Lincoln
areas.
One-by-one, they were taken by the hand to begin a daylong journey
of dental care, education and fun.
Sponsored by the UNMC College of Dentistry, the Hope Medical Outreach
Coalition and Colgate Palmolive, children ranging in age from preschool
through middleschool, received free exams, cleanings, fluoride treatments,
and had cavities filled and several had teeth pulled.
Though some sobbing was heard throughout the day, the children went
home with smiles on their faces and carrying a bag of goodies.
The college has participated in outreach events, but this was the first
time the college hosted the event.
It was an opportunity for the college to exercise both its education
and outreach missions, said John Reinhardt, D.D.S., dean of the UNMC College
of Dentistry. Dr. Reinhardt served as one of the faculty advisors during
the day who checked students finished work.
Its been a wonderful opportunity, Dr. Reinhardt said. The technical
experience is great for learning they are seeing more dental disease
than usual.
I think the students felt really good about doing this because the
need is great. I think they learned a lesson on how important it is to
serve the less fortunate. The experience also instilled some professional
pride, Dr. Reinhardt said.
Dental services were donated by about 300 UNMC dentistry and dental
hygiene students, faculty, dentistry residents and staff. The Hope Medical
Outreach Coalition made the event possible by applying for and ultimately
receiving funding from Colgate-Palmolive, which paid for supplies, entertainment,
lunch, transportation and translators.
Volunteers also included dental assistant students and two faculty from
Southeast Community College in Lincoln, dental hygiene students and faculty
from Central Community College in Hastings, as well as dental professionals
from the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department.
Gwen Hlava, chairperson and associate professor of the colleges dental
hygiene program, and a coordinator of the event, estimated more than 95
percent of the children needed cavities filled — some children who needed
several cavities filled.
I bet we did hundreds of fillings, she said. We also did a number
of extractions. Children who needed follow-up work will receive care with
a dentist in their hometown, she said.
The children served were those parents do not have dental insurance,
do not qualify for medicaid, or who cannot afford dental care. Hlava said
the event was unique in that it went further than screening to look for
dental problems.
Oral health disparities were addressed formerly in 2000 when U.S. Surgeon
General Dr. David Satcher released the first-ever Surgeon Generals Report
on Oral Health in America. The report, which praises the advances in oral
health sciences during the past 50 years, also points out disparities.
Many lower-income families and minorities, such as Native Americans, Hispanics,
and African Americans, are missing out on the benefits of oral health care.
Grand Islander, Lola Zubia, parent of four-year-old son, Casimiro, was
impressed by the event.
I think its neat they do this for kids. They get their teeth done
and then come down here to play games, Zubia said. She said moments were
a little tense when her son wouldnt calm down after he found out he would
have to have a shot of Novocain.
We couldnt get him calmed down so we went to the quiet room where
they did the work without a shot. I thought it was good there was a place
to take him so other children wouldnt get scared.
To ease the anxiety and keep children busy, dentistry and dental hygiene
students turned the first level of the college into a mini-carnival, with
games, movies and lunch. Children also received a bag of items, including
toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, activity books and stickers.
The Tooth Fairy even paid a daytime visit.
One girl told me I dont look anything like the Tooth Fairy, said
Amy Dayhoff, dental hygiene student, one of two students who played the
Tooth Fairy. I told her I was having a bad hair day.
Other students played caped crusaders.
With their motto, So many oral cavities, so little time, dental students,
Michael Browning and Scott Weyers, played Pedoman, and Orthoman. With
their face-painted-on masks, colorful capes and giant-sized toothbrushes,
the superhero personas entertained children.
Its wonderful, said Andrea Skolkin, of the event. Skolkin is the
executive director of the Hope Medical Outreach Coaliton. The coalition
coordinates and delivers donated medical, dental and prescription support
services to the poor and homeless primarily in the Omaha area.
Theyve pulled out all the stops here, Skolkin said. I think what
theyve been able to do here is engage the children with games which will
interest them in their teeth, versus being afraid.
Dental student, John Waschak, and hygiene student, Theresa Fackrell,
did what they could for some of Nebraskas underserved. After most everyone
else had finished their work and gone home, they were finishing up on their
last young patient of the day.
Waschaks experience as a parent and his calming chairside manner
eased the five-year-olds anxiety. With the drilling complete, Waschak
told the little boy it was time to put in the silver star filling.
Im really glad we could help the kids, Waschak said. Today is my
first experience working with children other than my own. Ive been working
with patients for a year now and Im still learning. This teaches me that
I probably need more experience with children.