Dental van travels miles to help kids' smiles

"A tooth fairy on wheels is stationed on Bainbridge this week, providing dental care for children who don't have financial access to local clinics.The SmileMobile, a 40-foot-long, bright menthol-green van, will be parked at the Helpline House from Aug. 23-25, offering examinations and follow-up treatment for needy children age 13 and under.The response to this service has been overwhelmingly positive, said Marci Hobbs, a spokesperson for the program. It has been very productive, and the communities we visit keep asking us to return.Started by Washington Dental Service in 1995, the SmileMobile travels across the state year-round offering dental work ranging from preventative care to fillings to oral surgery. It has examined more than 12,000 children to date, working with local social service agencies in each community to identify and register children in need.Each year more than 275,000 Washington children go without dental care, and more than 20 percent of those kids experience progressive tooth decay, according to a study by the WDS.Through research, we have seen that children who cannot afford dental care are affected for the rest of their lives, Hobbs said. The result of dental neglect can lead to oral pain, recurring infection and oral cancer, she said. The SmileMobile is staffed by three representatives of WDS, who join forces with teams of local professionals. This year, island dentists Dr. Sally Hewett and Dr. Jim McFarlane and several of their hygienists are volunteering at the clinic.The van, which visits an average of 40 communities each year, made its first visit to Bainbridge in 1999.The staff members worked for one week, helping about 40 children. They were asked to return again this year, and worked through Helpline House to schedule appointments. The SmileMobile is equipped with three dental chairs, an X-ray machine, sinks, stuffed animals, and a stool shaped like a large blue molar. The staff sees an average of 60 children each week, and works to educate families on the importance of preventative care. The treatment is provided at little or no cost to the patients, and when possible, Medicaid and other government programs reimburse them for services. Dr. Jeff Zent, a practitioner from Issaquah who is traveling with the program this summer, said that one of the most difficult things about the program is that many patients have not had the luxury of regular dental care before their visit to the clinic.A lot of kids have toothaches, and some of them cannot eat, he said. It makes the job challenging because there is always so much to be done.The SmileMobile conducted basic examinations Monday and Tuesday, and will offer follow-up treatments during the next three days. Sponsored and operated by WDS, it is supported by the Washington Dental Service Foundation, a non-profit organization, and the Washington State Dental Association, a professional guild of more than 3,000 dentists, who are encouraged to volunteer in the program each year.Organizations such as Medical Needs Northwest, and Smile Quest are both agencies that work to provide similar dental services for low-income adults. It has been a very successful program, Hobbs said. We are one of the first agencies to do this, and as a result, many other organizations have followed.To set up an appointment, contact Washington Dental Service at -528-2407, or Helpline House at 206-842-7624. "

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