VCU’s School of Dentistry provides free care on Give Kids a Smile Day

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Nikolay Mollov prepares to clean Imarara Monclova’s teeth while Hasheem Ghadhanfari adjusts the light.
Nikolay Mollov prepares to clean Imarara Monclova’s teeth while Hasheem Ghadhanfari adjusts the light.

Nikolay Mollov was friendly but firm as he offered dental advice to Tia Taylor.

“Make sure that she brushes for two minutes, in circular motions at a 45 degree angle,” he said, pointing to Imara Monclova, 4. “Don’t let her swallow any toothpaste.”

Taylor nodded, absorbing the information, while Imara held her stuffed bear tightly between her arms. Mollov, a third-year dental student at Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Dentistry, finished cleaning Imara’s teeth while her mother looked on.

“I’m very proud of her,” Taylor said.

Imara was one of more than 100 children treated free of charge by the VCU School of Dentistry’s Department of Pediatric Dentistry as part of Give Kids a Smile Day, which is organized by the American Dental Association and provides free care and education about dental hygiene to underserved children.

David Neblett and dentistry student Jonathan Delvecchio share a smile after a teeth cleaning. Photos by Chris Landrum, VCU Communications and Public Relations
David Neblett and dentistry student Jonathan Delvecchio share a smile after a teeth cleaning. Photos by Chris Landrum, VCU Communications and Public Relations

Information about the event was provided to families identified by the clinic, as well as distributed through local media channels.

“We heard about it on one of the local radio stations,” said Taylor. “I stopped what I was doing and called right away.”

This is the second year that the Department of Pediatric Dentistry has organized a Give Kids a Smile clinic event, and the attendance was double that of the previous year.

“We’re focused on treatment here,” said Diane Howell, director of clinical operations. “Many locations offer dental education, so we wanted to help children receive the care they might not get otherwise.”

Lawrence Shults, D.D.S., a first-year resident, was busy working on patients all day, but embraced the fast pace and increased attendance.

“If you’re a family of five, with no insurance and you need help for your children, this is made for you” said Shults. We’re doing what we can to help out.”

The parents of Ryan Wray, 6, certainly appreciated the care. Ryan received four crowns and three fillings.

“In these economic times, we couldn’t make the deductible for insurance,” said Rebecca Wray. “This was perfect.”

Some of the children who received care required more intricate work than cleanings or fillings. Eight children received oral surgery, which required that they be put under general anesthesia.

“Surgery can be very traumatizing,” said Christian Peck, a third-year dental student. “Anesthesia is really atraumatic, it makes things much easier for the patients.”

“We run three rooms,” said Michael Webb, D.D.S. “There’s no other place in Virginia with three rooms of general anesthesia.”

Webb, director of the Advanced Education Program in Pediatric Dentistry, was there to volunteer with his wife, Camy, a recovery room nurse.

While waiting for her cleaning, a young patient drew this picture for Dr. Heath Whitfield, a first year resident volunteering in the clinic.
While waiting for her cleaning, a young patient drew this picture for Dr. Heath Whitfield, a first year resident volunteering in the clinic.

“The children in surgery have been from 3 to 5 years old, a vulnerable age. They get some much-needed treatment, and we can do some good,” he said. Camy Webb agreed. “Families have been very appreciative of the efforts, even those who had to wait,” she said. “The turnout this year is great, and it’s nice giving back.”

The Department of Pediatric Dentistry provides oral health evaluation, education and intervention to children from birth to age 16. Their team approach, which includes faculty, residents, students and staff to patient care is unique and maximizes not only the quality of dental care provided, but also the education of the pediatric dental residents and undergraduate dental students.

Give Kids a Smile Day is organized by the American Dental Association, and in 2008 resulted in treatment of over 480,000 children. Events took place at more than 1,800 locations across the nation, with over 47,000 dental team volunteers, providing free services to underserved children.

For more information, visit http://www.ada.org/prof/events/featured/gkas/index.asp.