Monday, Nov. 02, 2009

Mobile unit takes tooth care to students in Horry County

CONWAY -- Carrying notes for their parents and colorful 2-minute sand timers to remind them to keep brushing, little boys and girls smiled as they left the mobile Miles for Smiles unit parked at Homewood Elementary School last week.

"This program allows us to reach out to children who may otherwise not be able to see a dentist," said dentist Marlene Mendez, as she worked with a team inside the unit on Wednesday.

"We give these children good experiences so that they don't fear going to a dentist when they're older," she said.

A Friday fundraiser at Villa Romana will benefit the program, which is part of the nonprofit Little River Medical Center's outreach to provide dental services for children. The school program began in 2004 after Horry County Schools determined that dental health was the major health issue for local students.

"They approached us," said Lyn Pierce, director of the Little River Medical Center Foundation. "Almost everyone embraces the need for children to have ongoing dental care beginning at an early age."

"We said we would step forward and take the dentists to the schools. Our pilot program was at Daisy Elementary School. That was successful, so we expanded," said Little River Medical Center CEO Pam Davis.

The 43-foot unit now travels to 20 elementary schools in Horry County and serves hundreds of children. Before the center purchased it with a grant in 2008, school officials had to find space for the dental team to work, and the team had to carry equipment in and out each visit.

Hygienists visit the schools before the dentist does, and they still have to work inside the schools, but the center is in the process of getting another mobile unit for them.

Green Sea Floyds Elementary School Principal Shirley Huggins said unused space is hard to find, and having the mobile unit has been very helpful.

"I'm very appreciative of all that they do to provide for the needs of our students," Huggins said. "A lot of times, children can't learn if they have a toothache or a cavity. It enhances their learning to be able to be pain free."

Little River Medical Center, founded in 1978, provides health and dental services to the insured, uninsured, unemployed and seniors on fixed incomes based on ability to pay at its locations in Little River, North Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach and Loris, and in outreach programs to children, the homeless and migrant workers.

Because of the recession, the number of uninsured patients seeking health and dental care is increasing. Since 2004, Little River Medical Center's patient base has increased almost 50 percent. The foundation is involved in a capital campaign to consolidate and expand the Little River and North Myrtle Beach facilities and make other improvements to meet the growing demand.

Davis said the Miles for Smiles program targets schools where about 50 percent of the students are on the free-lunch program. Because of a Medicaid expansion, more children can now qualify for Medicaid insurance.

Regardless of ability to pay, the Miles for Smiles program does not leave an elementary school child who cannot go to a dentist to try to learn while suffering with a toothache.

"If a child is in pain, it is my goal to get them out of pain," Davis said.