2008 Mobile Dental Grant Recipients
Many nonprofit organizations submitted proposals to the Mobile Dental Grant Program during the 2008 funding cycles. The Grant Selection Committee reviewed proposals and selected the following organizations as recipients of 2008 Mobile Dental Grants. We wish to congratulate:
- Northeastern Rural Health Clinics - $5,000
The funding was applied toward purchasing and installing needed dental equipment to outfit the current mobile van in order to handle the capacity of mobile services beyond the organization's dental clinic in Susanville, traveling to satellite medical clinics in Doyle and Westwood on a minimum of 5 times per month. Through the mobile dental services at the Westwood and Doyle medical clinics, discounted dental services were provided to 800 low-income children, elderly and disabled patients who lacked access to dental care. Services included exams, application of sealants and topical fluoride, cleanings, restorative treatment, education, x-rays, and minor surgery. The existing referral and follow up process in use at the Susanville clinic was utilized for patients seen via the mobile clinic. - East Bay Stand Down - $10,000
This veteran’s stand down mobile dental clinic project provided restorative dental services tp roughly 500 homeless adults who lacked access to dental care through a four-day mobile dental service within a “tent city” environment at the Alameda County Fairgrounds, located in Pleasanton, California. The four-day dental project occurred amongst three dental vans onsite, with the first day primarily for diagnosis of patient dental needs and the remaining three days for dental services beyond diagnosis. The onsite dental services included oral hygiene education, exams, diagnosis, preventive (including sealants, cleanings, X-rays, and topical fluoride applications), and restorative, endodontics, oral surgery and periodontal as needed. For specialist services and other care unable to be provided onsite, patients were transported to Southern Alameda County Dental Society member dentists' offices for treatment. - John Muir Health Foundation - $5,000
Through the Dental Collaborative of Contra Costa, this project provided free preventive and restorative dental services for 500 underserved children 0-19 years old who lacked access to dental care through a mobile dental service. The project was a collaboration between Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), the County Save Our Smiles program, La Clinica de la Raza, Brookside Community Health Center, and John Muir Community Health Alliance, with each providing a critical part of the services. The dental services included exams, application of sealants, oral hygiene cleanings, X-rays, topical fluoride applications, oral health education, restorative treatment, surgery, patient registration, assistance with enrollment in eligible programs and in identifying and establishing a connection to a dental and medical home for the child and family. - Children's Dental Foundation - $5,000
CDF's School-Based Mobile Dental Clinic Project provided preventive dental care for 2,000 underserved children ages 4-12 years-old who lacked access to dental care through a 10-month mobile dental service via school site visits among the Norwalk La Mirada City Unified School District school campuses. The Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District qualified and facilitated student visits to the mobile clinic. Dental services included exams, application of sealants, cleanings, X-rays, topical fluoride applications, oral health education, restorative treatment/surgery, and referrals. Norwalk City determined patient financial qualifications and transported children to referral sites. Multilingual evaluation forms, results, and referral forms were sent to schools and home to parents/guardians. Follow up phone calls were made by the Norwalk City employees who were responsible for transporting children to and from their home or schools and a CDF Clinic, where they received follow up care and treatment. - Antelope Valley Partners for Health - $5,000
Through the Save-A-Smile Dental Program Project, the Antelope Valley Partners for Health will provide free preventive mobile dental care for a minimum of 200 underserved children 0-17 years of age and their families who currently do not have access to dental care or insurance coverage. The preventive care shall include oral health education and preventative measures, specifically dental screenings provided with Prophylaxis, fluoride applications and dental sealants, and a referral system for referring patients that need further treatment to local volunteering dentists to provide the care needed at no cost, referring those that are eligible for insurance coverage to providers and assisting with applications, and assisting others that qualify for enrolling in the Healthy Families, Healthy Kids, DentiCal, MediCal, etc. All patients seen by the Save-A-Smile Program will have a care plan created and will be followed up by the dental assistant to help ensure that they follow their treatment plan. - University of Southern California – $6,250
Through the Neighborhood Mobile Dental Van Prevention Program Project, the University of Southern California (USC) School of Dentistry will provide preventive dental care for 300 low-income children ages 5-12 years-old through a year-long mobile dental clinic in South and East Los Angeles. Dental services include oral health education, exams, cleanings, and sealants, and fluoride varnishes for those children with active decay or at least four restored teeth. This project will hire a part-time bilingual staff person to help reduce cultural barriers and communicate with the Spanish-speaking children and their families participating in this mobile dental program. The year-long mobile clinic has been implemented through USC School of Dentistry. Children with urgent needs are identified and flagged for school administrators for follow-up. Children with urgent needs and no apparent access are referred to USC for free care. - Placer County Health and Human Services – $6,250
Placer County Miles of Smiles Program project provided preventive dental care for 900 low-income, elementary school children who lacked access to dental care through mobile dental services at six low-income, Roseville elementary school campuses. Dental services included oral health education for 900 children, exam screenings for 375 children, and application of sealants on 250 of these individuals. During the screening process, a Registered Hygienist ranked the children's oral health 1-3 (1=teeth and gums appear healthy, 2=dentist needs to thoroughly examine teeth to determine if treatment is needed, and 3=urgent care). Children ranked with a 3 had their family contacted by a project member and were given an opportunity to receive treatment without charge by local volunteer dentists. - North Bay Operation Hand Up - $2,500
This veteran’s stand down mobile dental clinic project provided primarily emergency, restorative dental care, including oral hygiene education, preventive (including, exams, cleanings, X-rays, and diagnosis), and restorative (including extractions, oral surgery and periodontal) as needed for approximately 200 homeless veterans who lacked access to dental care over a two-day event. The two-day mobile dental services were provided within a “tent city" environment through the stand down event and delivered onsite in mobile dental van(s), utilizing dental professionals from the Department of Veterans Affairs. - Sacramento Stand Down Association - $1,250
This veteran’s stand down mobile dental clinic project provided dental services to roughly 140 homeless veterans who lacked access to dental care through a one-day mobile dental service within a “tent city” environment. The one-day dental project occurred in a dental van(s) onsite. The onsite dental services included oral hygiene education, preventive (including, exams, cleanings, X-rays, and diagnosis), and restorative (including extractions, oral surgery and periodontal) as needed. Dental professionals from the Department of Veterans Affairs, active and reserve military services and community volunteers worked together to render these services onsite. - Yuba Sutter Veterans Stand Down - $1,250
This veteran’s stand down mobile dental clinic project provided dental services to roughly 120 homeless veterans who lacked access to dental care through a one-day mobile dental service within a “tent city” environment. The one-day dental project occurred in a dental van(s) onsite. The onsite dental services included oral hygiene education, preventive (including, exams, cleanings, X-rays, and diagnosis), and restorative (including extractions, oral surgery and periodontal) as needed. Dental professionals from the Department of Veterans Affairs, active and reserve military services and community volunteers worked together to render these services onsite.