"Share the Care" Contest Nominee Spotlight: Prairie Elementary

Prairie Elementary is our next nominee for the "Share the Care" contest. They are located in Guymon, the heart of the Oklahoma Panhandle. Our program has previously visited Guymon and this elementary school, but read below why those close to it think it deserves another day of care:

How do you think these service would benefit the organization?

"This school serves many low-income families. I have seen many children with teeth problems come through our school and their family not have the income to go to a dentist and fix their child's teeth."

"The closet SoonerCare provider is two hours one way, so it is hard on children and parents. Missing school an work is not an optimal situation."

Why do you think they should win this contest?

"This will be the only way most of our students will get their teeth cleaned or looked at." 

"To think that someone would come from OKC to help with the enormous oral health care need of the rural area made an impact on the staff and families of the children treated. The principals are dedicated to this program and know the value...seeing their students relieved of pain and functioning to their full capacity in the classroom again makes the staff very grateful." 

"Share the Care" Contest Nominee Spotlight: Broken Arrow Neighbors

Broken Arrow Neighbors (BAN) is an interfaith organization providing basic needs emergency assistance to over 11,000 financially disadvantaged people in the Broken Arrow area. Many of these clients require multiple visits and services to maintain or help regain self-sufficiency.

They offer programs like a food pantry, financial assistance, medical clinic, legal aid and clothing services to those in Broken Arrow. They believe that people of all faiths should work together to meet the needs of the working poor and elderly.

MobileSmiles recently spent it's first stay with Broken Arrow Neighbors in April. We had a wonderful experience working with their staff and meeting their clients to assess their dental needs and get them out of pain. We were told by their staff that this is one of the biggest requests by their clients and they are constantly looking for ways to alleviate dental pain and prevent future dental problems for their clients.

Here's what the nominees said about BAN:

How do think these services would benefit the organization?

"Broken Arrow Neighbors does so much for the community and strive to help meet the needs of individuals that have limited resources. Many of the patients that would benefit from the MobileSmiles van have not had dental care in a very long time. BAN is dedicated to establishing on on-site dental clinic and hopes to complement those services with MobileSmiles visits."

Why do you think they should win this contest?

"Broken Arrow Neighbors is always exploring new opportuntiies to better serve those individuals seeking their assistance. BAN always place a priority on "going the extra mile" and it would be great to help them meet their mission."

"Share the Care" Contest Nominee Spotlight: LCDA

The Latino Community Development Agency was created in 1989, the outcome of a United Way task force to address the needs of  the low-income, Latino population living in Oklahoma City. In 2005, it received its national accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitative Facilities, due to their program standards and achievements.

The LCDA's mission is: "Working to enhance the quality of life in the Latino Community through education, leadership, services and advocacy."

They provide health, nutrition, treatment and prevention programs. These include HIV/AIDs support groups and testing, mentoring and support for at-risk youth and many other opportunities for all ages and stages of the Latino population to be involved.

The Oklahoma Dental Foundation has had the pleasure of working with this program since 2008, providing many days of dental education, treatment and screenings throughout the years. We even celebrated treating the 10,000th patient in our program there last September!

Here's what the nominees had to say about the LCDA:

How do you think these services would benefit the organization?

"They would help a lot. We see many children who are uninsured."


Why do you think they should win this contest?

"Because of their approach to people who really need these services."

"For many years they have helped a minority population who could not receive services."

"Share the Care" Contest Nominee Spotlight: MHAT

The Mental Health Association of Tulsa was established 57 years ago to provide support to those who are affected by mental illness. They do this through housing services for mentally ill and their families, offer them employment opportunities and help them maintain job skills.

MobileSmiles has had the opportunity to visit several MHAT housing facilities over the past two years, providing life-changing dental treatment for those living on the streets. Some unable to find jobs do to the condition of their mouths, some living in pain and not able to fully function. With our help, they were able to live pain-free and now they are on their way to making themselves whole again.


Here's what the nominees had to say about MHAT:

"Why do you think this organization should win this contest?"

"The Mental Health Association of Tulsa puts a hand out to all in need. These services would give them the ability to serve and help those in need just that much further."

"First, the need. Second, the love and care that the Association shows. Third, the organization and level-handed, practical way that the Association goes about its service. They are caring, qualified and credentialed."

"Dental problems affect health and mental wellness."

Empowering or Enabling?

We know THIS is not what a child's mouth should look like.  And yet, we see it all too often. 
As the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Dental Foundation, I get the opportunity to see lots of great work happening in the world of dentistry in Oklahoma.  Now, with the MobileSmiles Oklahoma program, we have the ability to work in more parts of the state, treat more patients and touch more lives in great ways. 

The responsibility also causes us to ask new questions.  I've raised a few HERE - especially the issue of whether we are accomplishing our goal of helping people in the best way we know how. 

Bringing Home the Newest (and Biggest) Member of the ODF Family

Written By: Katherine Adams & Steve Hudson, ODF Staff

At 11:34 a.m., on November 27, 2012,  we met our new pride and joy for the first time: a new mobile unit! We knew this marked a monumental time in the Oklahoma Dental Foundation’s history. With it’s completion and arrival, we are able to expand our programs further than we dreamed possible just earlier this year.

Our trip started early that day, boarding a flight to Chicago at 6:00 a.m. Finally arriving in Columbus, Ohio, we took a cab to LaBoit Specialty Vehicles, Inc., the manufacturer of the new unit. We were greeted Sales Manager, Koni Wade, and Construction Manager, Wayne Henderson, who gave us a quick tour of our new bundle of joy!

After Wayne thoroughly trained us on all vehicle systems, we took off into Columbus rush hour traffic headed to Oklahoma City. There is nothing like driving a new, unknown vehicle that is worth more than a new Ferrari, in a town you don’t know, to get your adrenaline going!

All in all, we drove 925 miles in two days. The new unit is so easy to drive; we actually made it back to our storage facility in Oklahoma City before 10:00 p.m. on the second day!

Upgrades in New Mobile Dental Unit: 
• New floor plan with operatories on either end and welcome area in between
• Digital sensors
• 8,000 lbs. heavier – able to withstand the winds of Oklahoma while driving!
• Drawers and cabinets secured by latches
• Equipment strapped or bolted to ground or countertops for easy and safe transport
• Wheel chair lift
• Operatories can be sectioned off with pocket screens for privacy
• Sinks in both operatories

This is the first time we have had a mobile dental unit that was intentionally built to be one, rather than being retrofitted. Immediately, one can tell a huge difference between our two units. While, we are not putting our previous unit out to pasture, it’s simple; with more units we can treat more patients. 

The experience of getting to pick up the new mobile unit is something special. We are honored to be a part of an organization that is making such a positive impact on fellow Oklahomans.  We look forward to Oklahoma becoming acquainted with our bundle of joy, and the mission of the Oklahoma Dental Foundation reaching even more in need.

Our Great Partnership with the ODF

By Melissa Reese, RDH

Dental Support Manager for the Oklahoma City Area Inter-Tribal Health Board

Great partnerships are amazing.  They provide a sense of satisfaction similar to the feeling women experience following a victorious day of shoe shopping (not that the men reading this article will appreciate that analogy).  During the past two years I have been blessed with the opportunity to partner with the Oklahoma Dental Foundation to help address an issue that is both near and dear to my heart.  The Oklahoma City Area Inter-Tribal Health Board (OCAITHB) is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization, whose mission is to unite the Tribes within the Oklahoma City service area (OCA) to improve the health and quality of life of Native American communities through advocacy and education with federal, state and local entities, while maintaining Tribal sovereign rights.  Currently, we have greater than 335,000 American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people in our service area, which consists of the 43 federally recognized tribes in Oklahoma and portions of Kansas and Texas. 

Many people are unaware that AI/AN children experience Early Childhood Caries rates that are 400 times higher than any other U.S. race.  33% of AI/AN preschool children living within the OCA have tooth decay experience, 26% have untreated decay, 7% have urgent treatment needs, and 9% of children have decay by 1 year of age.  A large portion of our patients live in areas with low or no access to oral health care services, making the partnership between the ODF and OCAITHB critical to our mission.  I’m happy to report that since 2011, our joint efforts have provided 252 OCA AI/AN children access to mobile dental services through various Head Start, Tribal day care, and other school-based programs.  1,192 preventive and therapeutic procedures have been provided at an estimated $61,902.

On a personal note, I have to say that some of my favorite days are ones in which they need an extra set of hands on the van.  I’m a Registered Dental Hygienist by trade, but now work in a primarily administrative position.  Volunteering gives me the opportunity to get back in touch with my clinical roots, and is truly a “win-win” situation: the kids win because they receive oral health care, and I win because it is a gratifying experience.  If you haven’t had the opportunity to volunteer on the mobile dental van, I challenge you to give it a try, but be careful … giving someone a smile is contagious.  I am truly grateful for the partnership between the OCAITHB and the Oklahoma Dental Foundation, and I’m excited about future collaborative efforts. 

On a final note, I would like to thank the wonderful staff at the ODF and say, here’s to great partnerships!