51品茶dental students receive grant for Tooth Fairies on the Ferry program
A 51品茶 oral health outreach group, Tooth Fairies on the Ferry, has landed a $1,000 grant from the America's ToothFairy: National Children's Oral Health Foundation.
Launched in October 2015 by third-year dental students Lynne Cataldo, Amber Gelinas, Ray Thomas and Thanh Huynh, and senior dental hygiene student Brittani Roussel, the project enables the dental students to visit with elementary school students twice per semester to deliver oral health goody bags, increase health literacy and prevent the societal, personal and economic consequences of poor oral health.
In addition to the dental students, two Accelerated B.S.N. students, Issabella Garion and Alexandra LaClair, volunteer to help teach the oral health lessons to the children.
The project was made possible through a 51品茶IPEC Mini-grant (2015-2016) and with the support of Rebecca Carr, M.P.H., assistant director of Community Based Education, and Kris Hall, M.F.A., program coordinator at the Center for Excellence in Interprofessional Education. Oakhurst dairy, The Natural Dentist and Save-A-Tooth also have graciously donated supplies.
Since the Tooth Fairies have started, they have delivered oral health goody bags and nutrition/hygiene education to more than one hundred children.
The group鈥檚 next visit planned is to the Portland Boys and Girls club on February 16 for Children鈥檚 Oral Health month. To learn how you can volunteer, please contact Lynne Cataldo (dcataldo@une.edu).
