It’s all smiles at this New Haven dental clinic on wheels
By Jim Shelton, New Haven Register, Conn. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
With a full tank of gas and a full drawer of floss, the
Actually, the 48-foot Smiles to Go truck already had been in operation for a few weeks prior to the public "floss-cutting" event. Thursday morning, for example, kids from
"This is one of the most exhilarating days we've had in a long time," said Dr.
Aided by partners such as the
The truck is staffed by two part-time dentists and hygienist
The truck parks primarily at the center's main site at
"We see kids in here who have never been to a dentist," Lagarde said. "We take care of the whole patient. Oral health is a very big part of that."
Smiles to Go also visits four other city schools --
Patients must make an appointment with the health center in order to use the Smiles to Go service.
A number of city, state and federal officials attended the launch event, including Mayor
"I suggest you follow the ice cream truck and the candy truck all around town," DeLauro said.
Harp said the worst physical pain she's ever endured was a toothache she experienced as a youngster.
"When you think about the kind of pain some children have to sustain because of a lack of health care, you realize the need for better health care in our communities," Harp said. "Our society still doesn't value dental health to the degree that it should."
For
"It means my kids can have their teeth cleaned without taking the school day off," she said.
Call
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