LLU School of Dentistry Journal

Journal

Spring 2002

Reaching out to the community
School of Dentistry holds 14th annual Clinic with a heart
Nancy Yuen

During the 14th annual Clinic With a Heart, a day of free dental care for the community, Yvonne Ramos, fourth-year dental student;(l-r) Cecilia Kao, first-year pediatric dentistry resident, and Kenneth Chen, first-year dental student, provide care in the pediatric dental clinic while a parent observes.

On April 14, 2002, hours before the sun rose, 219 members of the community—from toddlers to grandparents—began to fill tents set up by Loma Linda University. They come to be a part of Clinic With a Heart, a day of dental care provided at no cost for those with financial need sponsored by the School of Dentistry.

Though treatment began at 6:30 a.m., need is so great that individuals begin to arrive hours earlier. Christina Bradley, the first patient for this year’s clinic, heard about Clinic With a Heart in a public service announcement, and traveled to the School with her mother, arriving at 1:00 a.m. with blankets.

This year more than $27,000 in dental care was provided at no cost to the patients—the most that has been provided since the event was first held 14 years ago. Procedures included: 174 radiographs, 66 teeth cleanings, 67 amalgams, and 84 extractions. Additional procedures included stainless steel crowns, sealants, occlusal adjustments, among others.

The event was staffed by 344 volunteers including School of Dentistry faculty, staff, predoctoral and graduate students. School of Nursing students took blood pressures. Also helping were Baldyview Regional Occupational Program (ROP) Dental Assisting School, and Chaffey Jr. College dental assisting program, who sent approximately 20 students and instructors.

Christina Bradley was the first patient for Clinic With a Heart, and arrived at 1:00 a.m. She was given an event T-shirt.

Each year community response has been overwhelming with hundreds receiving free dental care and treatment ranging from simple fillings and cleanings to extractions and diagnosis of more complex dental problems.

Crest toothpaste has partnered with the School of Dentistry for Clinic With a Heart, providing toothbrushes and toothpaste, and funding for T-shirts for the volunteers. Each year one child in immediate need of care is selected by the School, and Procter & Gamble Company and Crest® toothpaste provide additional funding for more extensive dental work to be completed.

“This has become a University-wide event,” says Mary Hartwell, dental clinics manager. “Employees from housekeeping, campus cafeteria, campus engineering, and media services donated services, food items, and tents and chairs for the event.”

In the late 1980s Leif K. Bakland, SD’63, who was at the time associate dean, clinic administration, encouraged dental student leadership to begin a yearly one-day free clinic for community people who could not afford dental care. He suggested the name Clinic With a Heart, after a similar program, Doctors With a Heart, in which dentists open their office for a day of free care.

Students from the School of Nursing volunteered, taking blood pressures. Also pictured is nursing professor Dee Hart (standing, far right).

Faculty and students provide dental care in the main clinic. This year, 219 patients were served during Clinic With A Heart.

The Sun photographer Gabriel Acosta captures and image on the main clinic floor. Articles about the even appeared in The Sun and the Redlands Daily Facts.


First-year dental student Evan Tilltson (left) and Marlon Peter (third year), prepare to perform an extraction in the oral surgery clinic.	Dental hygiene juniors (from left) Kristi Morgan, Kristin Allen, and Kelly Noto develop radiographs.

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