SmileMobile Rolls Into Town to Bring Dental Care to Kids In Need

Some of them were 18 – and had never seen a dentist in their lives.

That was before the Washington Dental Service's SmileMobile spent a week in the back parking lot at .

The SmileMobile is a fully equipped dental clinic that provides free dental care to children from birth through high school that come from families with a limited income. It is an operation of the Washington Dental Association Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the organization, and Seattle Children’s Hospital.

Since hitting the road in July 1995, it has treated more than 25,000 children throughout Washington.

The converted bus travels around the state and will occasionally approach a county and ask if they could be of service to its residents.

When Pierce County got the call, Linda Gillis jumped at the opportunity.

Gillis, the Pierce County Health Department’s program coordinator for access to medical and dental care, said that she encouraged the SmileMobile’s coordinators to visit Spanaway and Lakewood.

“The Clover Park School District has a very high area of low-income children that traditionally take advantage of the free and reduced-price lunch, and Spanaway and the Bethel School District, as well,” she said. “That’s usually an indicator that there are folks in need.

“However,” she added, “all children are welcome on the SmileMobile bus.”

Last week, volunteer dentists and hygienists saw about 60 children, including 20 on Thursday alone. The largest group was high-school students, mainly freshmen and seniors.

“The kids are amazing,” said clinic manager Rhonda Wright. “They were happy to be here. We got no complaints. They were saying ‘We’re here as long as you want us.’

“Now these kids who have graduated can go on to their adult life cavity-free.”

Sue Biles, who as Clover Park’s Registered Nurse scheduled appointments, said that she initially worried the SmileMobile would not get much interest.

They were booked solid after just one day.

“My phone was ringing off the hook,” she said. “It’s been a huge success.”

That was welcome news to Bridget Vandeventer, communications manager for the Pierce County Health Department. It means that families are understanding the importance of dental care for their children.

“People don’t think of how important oral health is to your overall health,” Vandeventer said. “For children, it’s really going to get in the way of them learning in school if their teeth hurt; if their mouths are filled with cavities.

“It’s going to create other health problems by not having good teeth or gums.”

It is recommended that children see a dentist by their first birthday, but that is not always possible.

“It is amazing how many kids we found that are 14 or 15 and have never seen a dentist,” said Clover Park principal John Seaton. “In the first three days, we have found four students with abscesses. They had never had dental or medical care. It’s just heartbreaking.”

Biles said that the SmileMobile ended up doing fewer exams than originally anticipated because so much restorative work was required on the children seen last week.

For those unable to get to Clover Park last week, the SmileMobile will be at Spanaway Lutheran Church, 16001 A Street South, from June 27 to July 1. The organizers are also giving referrals to Lakewood Community Healthcare.

Biles said that about half of the appointments are already filled for additional work on students who were seen last week.

Vandeventer said that the county offers access to dental care at all times.

“People still need it,” she said. “We want to make sure that kids are getting good oral health care.”

That includes doing sealants in local schools and coordinating children who have received Medicaid benefits with a local dentist to ensure they start getting dental care early in life. Independent providers are going into some of the elementary schools to provide services.

“We are trying to make (dental care) as available and as possible for those who have no place to go,” Gillis said.

Biles said she hopes to have the SmileMobile back twice during the 2011-12 school year, preferably for about three weeks both in the fall and after Christmas vacation. But she isn’t picky about when they come.

 “The needs are really high here.”