PG&E has given $1,250 to Dientes Community Dental Care, a nonprofit in Santa Cruz that sends dentists to schools throughout Santa Cruz County so that low-income children can have healthier teeth.
The donation funded a day of service at Boulder Creek Elementary School on Monday when 25 students shuffled in and out of the teachers lounge where the furniture was pushed away to make room for foldable chairs, portable tools and X-ray equipment.
“We look for opportunities to support the community, especially the most needy,” said Rob Morse, PG&E’s senior manager for the Central Coast.
The Dientes outreach program provides dental care for the uninsured at 25 locations countywide, 15 of which are elementary schools. Parents fill out school forms at the beginning of the year to indicate that they’d like their children to participate in the oral health education and care program.
The norm is to visit the dentist every six months, so twice a year, Dientes visits the schools to give students free screenings and cleanings they might not otherwise receive.
“I don’t really like going to the dentist,” said talkative third-grader Rehanna Fowler. “My favorite part is the end when I get my toy.”
Still, the 8-year-old said the program has taught her how important brushing and flossing are. Now she often brushes her teeth the length of Justin Bieber songs.
“I learned to not eat as much sugar and to eat healthier,” said Autumn Young, an 8-year-old in the second grade.
When a number of children opened their mouths to say ahhh, some silver teeth showed. Many said they’ve only seen a dentist once or twice before and need cavities and crowns treated.
“About 80 percent of them need follow-up work. That’s really a big deal,” said Dr. Sam Kuo, a Dientes dentist, while quickly bouncing between the students and the computers.
For Kuo, this is personal work. Dientes used to come to Harbor High School in Santa Cruz when he was a student, and he received the free dental care.
In addition to sending the children home with a dental report card and dental care plan, the school will call home to share the results.
Dientes also takes the mobile clinic to nursing homes and service centers, places where low-income people are likely to not have easy transportation or access to dental care.
However, children still make up half of the 10,000 patients Dientes served this year. But for those 10,000 patients, only 10 providers in the county take Medi-Cal.
Source: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/health/20151130/pge-funds-free-dental-care-day-for-boulder-creek-students-through-dientes
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