Clinic With a Heart shows compassion by Christy K. Robinson   Patients waited for registration to begin, under tents provided by Campus Engineering.   In its ninth annual Clinic With a Heart free dental clinic, the School of Dentistry provided treatment for 239 patients, for a total of $18,259 in donated services, on February 27. Over 370 students, faculty, and staff donated their skills and talents on Sunday morning, beginning with registration at 6:00 a.m., and ending in mid-afternoon. The tents and chairs had been set up on Friday, anticipating that hundreds of potential Clinic With a Heart (CWAH) patients would arrive during the chilly, dark hours before registration. Some patients said that when they arrived at 5:30 a.m., there were already "a bunch" of people waiting to register. Indeed, the first patient arrived at 11:30 Saturday night, followed by her adult son at 1:00 a.m. They huddled under blankets they'd brought, and were grateful for the hot chocolate and tea provided before dawn. The Dental Student Association (DSA) and the School, along with Procter & Gamble dental products, sponsored the annual free clinic, as a way to help those in the community who have no dental insurance or regular dental health care. Local newspapers ran an announcement a week before the clinic, but word of mouth was an important factor. Some patients heard about CWAH in their churches around the Inland Empire.   Blood pressure checks and filling out questionnaires were the first steps in the registration process.   During registration, patients filled out health questionnaires and were screened for blood pressure and recent illnesses or surgeries. They were called by numbered tickets into the Prince Hall lobby, and then screened: x-rayed, examined, and diagnosed by faculty dentists, hygienists, and a few students. The cases were assigned by degree of difficulty to student dentists and hygienists. Patients were called by students, and courteously escorted to the dental operatories for treatment. Many faculty supervisors hovered about, giving instruction, consulting on patient needs, demonstrating techniques, and signing off on completed procedures. Not seen much, but working just as hard as on a regular workday, were volunteers in sterilization, housekeeping, supply, radiology, and maintenance.   Every operatory was busy with patients during Clinic With a Heart.   Before patients were released, they were given information about becoming regular patients in the School of Dentistry clinics, plus toothbrushes and paste provided by Procter & Gamble (Crest) representative, Gary F. Peterson, associate director for professional and scientific relations and oral care products. His company also sponsored the tee shirts worn by CWAH volunteers. This is what some of the patients had to say about Clinic With a Heart: * Sheri and her husband came from Parker, Arizona, after reading the announcement of Clinic With a Heart in the San Bernardino County Sun. "It was really worth the trip. This is the best dental treatment anywhere. My student dentist was great. CWAH is fantastic. When people don't have dental insurance coverage, they let their teeth go until it affects their health. I had a molar extracted, and the long roots made it really difficult. It had been infected for a while, and my lymph nodes were swollen. I say gratefully, ÔThank you!'" Eunice Hong, SD'01, light-cures a filling. Yan Huang, IDP student, Dr. William Heisler, professor of restorative dentistry, and Lana Gardi, IDP student, inspect a patient radiograph. Michael Erickson, SD'02, Dr. Clyde Roggenkamp, associate professor of restorative dentistry, and Greg Skeens, SD'01, consult on a patient chart. * A Redlands man said, "I had a filling in my molar. My student dentist treated me well. The rubber dam was uncomfortable, but I understand why it was needed." * A Highland woman who arrived at 5:30 a.m., said, "They filled a tooth and made it look real nice. They explained what they were doing as they did it. They made me feel comfortable, and kept asking how I felt. I hadn't seen a dentist in 10 years, but my (student) dentist was very gentle, and I'm going to start coming here as a patient. I want her to treat me." * A couple from Colton arrived at 6:00 a.m., and both were treated and on their way by 11 a.m. The husband had an extraction, and the wife had a composite filling. "We received excellent service. We both had senior students. I was seeing a dentist regularly until I lost my full-time job in a warehouse in 1997. My wife's Denti-Cal was cut with her disability payments, and she doesn't have coverage until her Medi-care starts up. So CWAH was perfect timing. So many people have no insurance and can't afford health care." * A San Bernardino man rode his bicycle from near the old Norton Air Force Base, and arrived at the registration tent at 1:00 a.m. Sunday. He wasn't the first person in line, though. That would be his mother, who came at 11:30 Saturday night. They were the first numbers called for screening and treatment. "It was a little cold," the man said, "but I had my blanket. It was worth the wait! My dentist was really nice, and did a real good job. He x-rayed me, took out the decay, put in composite on a front tooth, and polished it. It looks great!" * A Loma Linda woman praised her student hygienist, Erin Solberg. "Erin was very considerate and checked to see if I was comfortable. They were careful to give me a large antibiotic dose because of my recent hip replacement." * A San Bernardino man who arrived with his wife at 5:15 a.m., had an extraction. His wife had a prophylaxis and is excited about the possibility of being a National Boards patient in a few months. "My filling had fallen out, then half the tooth broke. So they had to extract the tooth and the broken roots. Of course, there was no pain, but the pressure was difficult to take. When they were done, I felt like I had to close my jaw with my hands! The dentists were very considerate about my comfort, though. Everyone was very courteous." * A patient who arrived at 4:00 a.m. said, "They're very nice here. I'd like to come back as a patient in the clinic." * "God blessed us with this free service," said a couple from Corona. "We haven't seen a dentist since we lived in Mexico. We had fillings, and no pain. The treatment was good. Now we will bring our son here." * A family from Twenty-nine Palms arrived at 5:15, having heard about CWAH from friends. The father had a broken filling fixed, avoiding a future root canal treatment, he said. The mom had a split tooth restored, and the son had two extractions. "Tonight for supper, we're having Jello! It was great treatment, and we'd like to come back. It's been five years since we saw a dentist." Tong Liang, IDP student, was a CWAH volunteer. Brian Hanratty, SD'01, and Jesus Rodriguez, CDA, RDA, suture a patient after a root tip extraction. Sasha Dennis, DH'01, performs prophylaxis on a CWAH patient. Students eagerly wait for their patient assignments from Anahid Benzatyan. Crest representatives Gary Schneider and Bob Riltelle fill goodie bags.   Jennifer Barry, SD'99, pediatric dentistry graduate student, and Carlos Moretta, SD'01, treat a pediatric patient on her first-ever visit to a dentist.   University | Medical_Center | LLU&MC_home | Search | Employment | News_&_events | Academics | Our_mission | Admissions | Registration | Research | Alumni | Student_resources All contents copyright © 2001 Loma Linda University. All rights reserved. Revised Wednesday, February 28, 2001 2:12 PM Send comments and questions to webmaster@univ.llu.edu URL: http://www.llu.edu/