Dental clinic on wheels will serve children in Chautauqua County

By LOIS BAKER
News Services Editor

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the mobile facility was held Tuesday, Oct. 29, on the UB South Campus, in the atrium of Squire Hall and in the adjacent parking lot.

Called the Success for Life Mobile Dental Van, the mobile clinic was made possible through a grant from the Gebbie Foundation and its Success by Six program. The project also received supplemental funding from the Southern Chautauqua United Way, the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation and the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.

The 39-foot, custom-made van contains two fully equipped dental operatories with the capability to provide a wide range of pediatric dental services, including cleanings, regular check-ups, fillings, sealants, X-rays, referrals and dental-health education.

Louis J. Goldberg, dean of the UB dental school, said the school appreciates greatly the Gebbie Foundation's generosity and reaffirmed the school's commitment to public service, particularly to children whose access to care is limited.

Research has shown that poor dietary habits in infants and children can have an adverse effect on their oral health," he said. "Early intervention has been shown to be effective in reducing tooth decay, and gingival and periodontal diseases. This project will have a significant impact on the health of children and will further the dental school's commitment to disease prevention."

The van will visit selected sites in Chautauqua County throughout the year and serve children who are not receiving care from a dentist. It will be staffed by UB dental school personnel. The targeted populations are children covered by Medicaid or those having little or no dental insurance.