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Patient Profile
Children who qualify to receive treatment on the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile are those eligible for the Medicaid state-funded health insurance program or who participate in the free and reduced school lunch program. Since the program began in July of 2002, The Tooth Truck has focused on children who attend Caring Communities Schools in the Springfield R-12 School District with an emphasis on students in the 2nd and 6th grades. These age groups were selected because these are two critical stages of development in a child’s mouth. Second grade was chosen because permanent teeth are beginning to appear and children at this age can better understand the importance of oral hygiene and can incorporate these habits into their daily routine. Sixth grade students were selected because of the opportunity to place additional emphasis on daily oral hygiene habits prior to the high decay teenage years.
Since the program began, over 3,300 children have received comprehensive dental treatment through nearly 13,000 appointments. Oftentimes, a child’s visit to The Tooth Truck is the very first time they’ve seen a dentist. During their first visit, children receive oral hygiene instruction from one of our dedicated volunteers, a cleaning, x-rays and a full comprehensive evaluation by our dentist. The overwhelming majority of children need restorative treatment which often requires 2-3 additional visits to complete.
Five-year-old Taylor was complaining that her “mouth hurt.” After a complete evaluation, we found seven cavities. Three visits to “The Tooth Truck” helped her “feel much better now.” The care for Taylor was valued at $767.00.
Michelle, seven, had 12 cavities, some in permanent teeth. In four appointments,
all cavities were fixed and
sealants were applied to permanent teeth. Michelle received new toothbrushes
for herself and her siblings
and proudly shows off her new smile to her friends. The care which gave her
a new smile was valued at $1,374.00.