New Dental van spreads PennSmiles to children

If everything a child needs to know in life is learned in kindergarten, then PennSmiles is making an impact on the West Philadelphia community by teaching the ABCs of dental hygiene. Yesterday, PennSmiles -- an organization sponsored by the Penn's School of Dental Medicine -- inaugurated the PennSmiles van, its newest dental care facility, at Henry Lea Elementary School on 47th and Locust streets. The van contains two fully-equipped dental operating stations, digital radiography equipment, computer access and a waiting area. The vehicle will run on a regular basis to West Philadelphia elementary schools to perform check-ups on students. About 68 percent of these children have some form of dental decay, determining the need for an organization such as PennSmiles. "Wherever we go, we hear children complaining because their teeth hurt," City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell said. "We need to do something useful for the children in our community." The Dental School's efforts were rewarded yesterday with the inauguration of the van. "We are so happy we're able to open the van," Director of Community Oral Health Joan Gluch said. Founded in 2001, PennSmiles has been working in the Philadelphia area with more than 10,000 students from 70 schools. The program provides oral health education, screenings and referral services for children. "It's really necessary for our kids' dental education," Lea School Principal Mike Silverman said. "Kids understand how to take care of their teeth." Penn and the Lea School "have a long history of strong partnership," Gluch said. For this reason, the school was chosen as the site of the van's inauguration. With this new addition, the program will be able to bring dental education and services to children in a more affordable way. In fact, the most advantageous aspect of this new facility is that it will allow students to see specialists in pediatric dentistry while they are in school. This possibility allows parents -- especially working mothers -- to avoid taking time off from work. The program is "wonderful for children and parents," Lea School Nurse Kathy Wetzel said. "They really bring it down to a child's level -- and the kids love going." The initial funding for the van was provided by the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. To maintain the facility's operation, funding will be given by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The van will operated by Penn faculty and third- and fourth-year Penn dental students, for whom community service is a required part of the curriculum. "Maintaining a strong community presence is very important for the school," said Dental School Dean Raymond Fonseca, who will be leaving his position in June. As a result, Penn graduate students will be dedicating a considerable amount of time to this project. "It's an essential part of learning to be a dentist," Gluch said. "Students gain wonderful experiences by meeting their patients as people." Gluch gave Fonseca credit for the Dental School's heavy community involvement. "Community service has been the theme of his deanship," she said. "This van will be a wonderful legacy to all his achievements."