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Ronald McDonald
Care Mobile

How to Give

 

 

You can uncover a treasure for a child

Some of the most basic things are the treasures of childhood—being included or eating without pain or simply smiling without being self-conscious. Simple, but extremely valuable—and, until the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, just out of reach for thousands of children in our area.

 

Many children right here have never been to the dentist. They are in pain. They are self-conscious. They miss days of school. Their self-esteem is in jeopardy.

 

Now the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, fondly known as “The Tooth Truck,” rolls into a school parking lot and opens its doors to children. Friendly volunteers talk to the children. The exceptional dental staff evaluates and treats their dental needs. And as we complete their treatment plan, children rediscover their smiles and get rid of pain. This has a huge impact on their lives as well as our community. The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile is often their only access to relief. And even we are amazed at the success stories.

 

• Three-year-old Nicholas was complaining of mouth pain. When we met him, we saw that the adorable little boy didn’t like to smile. After a complete evaluation, we found his mouth was full of little black spots and broken off teeth. He had 15 cavities. After ten visits to “The Tooth Truck,” Nicholas will never have to hide his beautiful smile again. His has become one of the brightest smiles we’ve ever seen. His care was valued at $2,990.00.

 

• Brandon, 13, had complained of mouth pain for months. After numerous phone calls and sleepless nights, his mother contacted “The Tooth Truck.” The dental staff evaluated Brandon and created a treatment plan, which included two root canals and more. Soon this talented athlete will be able to concentrate on his schoolwork and sports, not on the pain that he wished would go away. Brandon will receive $2,555.00 in dental care and spend more than 12 hours on “The Tooth Truck.”

 

The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile has helped nearly 7,500 children like these. But there are so many more, thousands more, right here in the Ozarks suffering constant pain and embarrassment. As you can see, dental care, though priceless to their young lives, is expensive. Medicaid/MC+ reimburses less than half of our costs. You can help uncover a treasure for these children.

Your donation for a single appointment, a half day (8 children), a full day (16 children) or a week (80 children) is critical to keep this successful program alive.

 

Our mission is to teach prevention and stop the spread of tooth decay to permanent teeth while we educate about the importance of good oral health. Our volunteers give these children spirit-building attention along with instruction in dental hygiene. The entire staff attends to their dental needs with professionalism and a charming sense of humor. But the children need your help.

 

Not afraid to smile.

The boogie man. The dark. What’s under the bed. Childhood has many fears, most of which are outgrown as time passes. But if a child is afraid to smile because of dental issues, the situation may only get worse.

 

A child stymied by pain will not perform well in school, sports or even activities they love. A child embarrassed by appearance, will withdraw, lowering self esteem and their own expectations.

 

The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, affectionately known as “The Tooth Truck,” delivers hope for children and their parents, hope that makes an impact on their future.

 

It’s hope on wheels.

The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile offers children professional dental care their families would otherwise not be able to afford. Since 2002, we’ve provided nearly 22,000 dental appointments for over 7,500 at-risk children.

 

That’s more than 7,500 children, some with decay in every tooth, who have been helped to a happier childhood. Many have never been to a dentist, and most required around three return visits just to correct their dental problems. The Tooth Truck provides treatment for approximately 16 children per clinic day.

 

How does “The Tooth Truck” Program Work?

Thousands of low-income children have no transportation or means to acquire care. “The Tooth Truck” removes those barriers. The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile visits the schools. School nurses identify Medicaid-eligible children and/or kids in the free or reduced school lunch program with the biggest needs.

 

Eighty percent of our focus is on second- and sixth-grade students. These are critical years in tooth development, providing the greatest opportunities to educate and encourage children to incorporate oral hygiene into their daily routines. The other 20% is focused on children in other age groups with acute dental needs.

 

“The Tooth Truck” provides a full range of dental services, including x-rays, cleanings and sealants, root canals and fillings. With oral hygiene education accompanying treatment, we aspire to prevent tooth decay, the number-one chronic childhood disease, one child at a time.

 

Types of Dental Treatment Provided

Restorative - 48%
Preventive - 34%
Diagnostic - 9%
Endodontics - 6%
Adjunct Services - 3%

 

Helping kids smile again.

The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile brings far more than top-notch dental care to under-served kids. Sometimes it’s the one-on-one time with volunteers and staff that makes the biggest difference in the life of the child.

 

Our dedicated dozens of volunteers provide additional one-on-one support for children. They greet children and accompany them to and from their classrooms. They teach each child about oral hygiene and calm fears of children new to dental care. They even help with homework or teach a craft, providing true quality time.

 

Why the need is so great.

Tooth decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease, five time more common than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever. (1)

 

• More than 51 million school hours are lost each year due to dental-related illnesses. (2)

 

• 9,611 of the 24,541 Springfield Public Schools student enrollment who participate in the free or reduced school lunch program do not have access to dental care. (3)

 

• “The needs of many at-risk children in Springfield are not being met. Our community must be willing to address the issue of inadequate social and health-related services. Many children in Springfield and Greene County lack access to adequate dental and health care.” (4)

 

1 Oral Health Initiative: A Report of the Surgeon General, May 2000
2 Academy of General Dentistry, February 2004
3 SpringfieldPublic Schools Department of Health Services, October 2004
4 Community Focus 2004: A Report for Springfield and Greene County

 

Not afraid to care. Not afraid to give.

So many children are in need, it requires all efforts available and, more than ever, we need your help.

 

There are potentially 16,000 Medicaid-eligible youths in Greene County alone. Even if the program scheduled 3,500 appointments a year, it would take six to seven years to see each child just one time. Many times, “The Tooth Truck” is the first dental experience children have ever had. Medicaid reimbursements account for only about 40% of our annual budget, nearly $450,000.

 

Please help with whatever you can give. Simply fill out the donation card and forward it to 949 E. Primrose St., Springfield, MO 65807. Your help will support a healthier community and assist deserving children who should be unafraid to smile.

 

Make an on-line donation.

-or-

 

Send donations to:

Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks

949 East Primrose Street

Springfield, MO 65807-5257

 

 

 

 

 

 

Make an on-line Donation

 

 

Tooth Truck Kids

Alanna is only five, but was already experiencing tooth trouble. Her big brother, Brandon, is in the second grade at York School. Together, these bright-eyed children have received more than $1,300.00 in dental care over seven visits to the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, and now their bright smiles match their much brighter future.

Amanda, 11, living with her grandparents, had 16 cavities, some quite severe and noticeable to herself and other children. After 10 visits to “The Tooth Truck,” a beautiful child gained a new smile and a new sense of self worth that was priceless. She is very grateful for her
new smile.

Elizabeth, five, had more cavities than teeth. This beautiful, quiet child, who would not even show the school nurse her teeth, had 24 cavities. She will visit "The Tooth Truck" nine times and will receive care valued at $1,800.00.