Montana Healthy Smilesmontana dentists paying it forward Archives

With Montana kids getting back in the swing of the school year, it's a good time for parents to revisit some oral health basics to help schoolchildren have a successful year. Montana dentists offer a few simple tips to help with good outcomes in the classroom, and to avoid injury on the sporting fields.

"The pain of a toothache makes it hard for children to learn," said Billings dentist Dr. Chris Hirt, the president of the Montana Dental Association. "With kids eating meals at school and participating in team sports, it's important to keep an eye on good oral health habits that prevent cavities and injuries."

The Montana Dental Association has three simple tips for Montana parents.

First, pack a healthy lunch, without sugary drinks or candy. The bacteria in your mouth feed off of sugar, especially the type and amount of sugar found in candy and sugary drinks. The acids these bacteria release lead to tooth decay.

Sugary drinkslike soda, lemonade, juice, and sweetened teacreate a constant sugar bath over teeth and are particularly bad promoters of tooth decay.

Alternatively, foods rich in calcium, like cheese, milk, yogurt, and leafy greens, can benefit tooth health in growing children. Protein-rich foods like meat, poultry, fish, milk, and eggs are great sources of phosphorous, a mineral that protects and rebuilds tooth enamel.

Second, wear a mouth guard when participating in sports. Athletes who don't wear mouthguards are 60 times more likely to suffer harm to the teeth, according to American Dental Association data. Mouthguards should be worn while participating in any sport with contact, like football or soccer, to mitigate the risk of broken teeth and injuries to the lips, tongue, face, or jaw.

Some school districts work with local dentists to provide free, or low-cost mouth guards to athletes. Check with your dentist or child's coach to find out what is available in your area.

Third, put your children on a path to a lifetime of good oral health by establishing good habits at an early age. The simplest habits to instill are brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste for two minutes, and flossing between your teeth daily. Following this simple regimen will help prevent most common oral health problems.

"We don't want any children being distracted in class by a problem with their teeth," Dr. Hirt added. "The best medicine is prevention, and we're hoping that by following these few easy tips, parents can prevent the most common dental health problems from developing."

Posted on Sep 23, 2014

Sealants for Smiles and a group of local dental professionals offered students at Bench Elementary in Billings, MT preventative dental services at no cost to their families. Click here to view the full article and news clip!

Posted on Feb 9, 2014

(Billings, Mont.)Washington and Bench Elementary Schools, in partnership with local dental professionals, will be providing enrolled children tooth decay preventing services at no cost to families. The events will take place from 8:30 am to noon on Thursday, February 6 at Washington Elementary and Friday, February 7 at Bench Elementary.

WHO:

Washington and Bench Elementary Schools and local dental professionals

WHAT:

In-school tooth decay preventing services at no cost to families

WHEN/WHERE:

Thursday , February 6, 2014 at Washington Elementary, 8:30 am - noon

Friday, February 7, 2014 at Bench Elementary, 8:30 am - noon

Dental health is vitally important to the overall child health and well-being. Tooth decay is the number one chronic childhood disease, 11 times more common than hay-fever and 8 times more common than asthma. Additionally, it is the single most common unmet childhood healthcare need in the US. Tooth decay and its resulting consequences (chronic pain, difficulties with speech, poor nutrition, self-esteem, and school performance) are nearly 100% preventable with appropriate and timely dental disease preventing techniques such as dental sealants and fluoride treatments. Annually, children miss 52 million-school hours across the US due to dental disease.

In response to this national crisis, Washington and Bench Elementary Schools have partnered with local dental professionals to initiate a comprehensive program that provides at no-cost to families in-school tooth decay preventing services to children. Services provided to children in this program include dental screenings, dental sealants, fluoride treatments, toothbrushes and toothpaste, oral health education, coordination of care for children with treatment needs, and assistance to families in enrolling in Medicaid/CHIP.

Posted on

Each February, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. NCDHM messages and materials have reached millions of people in communities across the country.

Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

Whether you're a member of the dental team, a teacher or a parent, the ADA has free online resources that can help you with oral health presentations, ideas for the classroom and coloring and activity sheets that can be used as handouts. The ADA also has booklets, videos and other materials available for purchase through the ADA Catalog.

Celebrate children's dental health - schedule a tooth cleaning for your child, and don't put off any dental work they may need.

Fun Activity Sheets for Kids

Check out these games, puzzles, cool coloring sheets and our smile calendar. Print out the collection and grab your markers! You'll be on the road to a healthy smile in no time.

Posted on Feb 1, 2014

(MONTANA)- The Montana Dental Association (MDA) presented the 2013 MDAClinical Excellence Award to Bozeman dentist Dr. Norman T. Nybo who practices dentistry at Art of Dentistry located at 1125 W Kagy Blvd, Bozeman (406) 587-1688.

In his nomination, his peers in the Sixth District Dental Society noted: "He has shared unselfishly of his time and knowledge, and has mentored young dentists and students who aspire to become members of our great profession.

Dr. Nybo has served as president of the Sixth District and has been active in Children's Dental Health Month, school screenings and peer review.

During his 34 years in practice, he has amassed more than 2,500 hours of continuing education, including several certifications form the Academy of Laser Dentistry. He is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), was a delegate to the AGD national meeting and serves on the Montana AGD Continuing Education Committee. He is a member of the Seattle Study Club and Blue Ribbon Seminars.

Dr. Nybo has developed practice management software. He is also a professional artist and member of Oil Painters of America.

Dr. Nybo attended Concordia College and Montana State University and graduated with honors from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. Dr. Nybo provides restorative dentistry courses for MSU Pre-Dental students.

The MDA is a professional membership organization, representing more than 650 Montana dentists. The MDA is a constituent member of the American Dental Association and is affiliated with ten local district dental societies throughout Montana. Learn more at www.mtdental.org.

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Media Contact: Dave Hemion (406)443-2061, dave@montanadental.org

Posted on Dec 22, 2013 | Tagged with: awards, clinical excellence award, dentist, Nybo

(MONTANA) The Montana Dental Association (MDA) presented its 2013 Outstanding Dental Hygienist award to Ms. Gina Gabrian, RDH of Helena during its recent annual meeting. Ms. Gabrian works as a Certified Dental Hygienist at Helena Family Dentistry located at 38 S. Last Chance Gulch, Helena (406) 443-6160.

In his nomination for Ms. Gabrian, her Helena employer and dentist Dr. John Smith wrote: "Gina deserves special recognition for her service as President of the Montana Dental Hygienists' Association (MDHA), her community involvement, the love she clearly demonstrates for her family and the hard work and effort she gives to all her patients day in and day out."

Ms. Gabrian served as president of the MDHA in 1999-2000. She also served MDHA as a Delegate, Trustee and Board of Dentistry liaison.

Dr. Smith notes further "Gina has practiced for over 25 years. She doesn't have one year of experience 25 times, but has compounded her skills over the years to become quite proficient. She is always truthful and honest with her patients and continually encourages them to prevent disease and maintain their oral health."

Gina is known for her quick wit and ability to make patients feel at ease. "Laughter comes quickly to Gina and others in the office admire her for this trait as well as for the care and love gives to every patient" said Dr. John Smith.

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Media Contact: Dave Hemion (406)443-2061, dave@montanadental.org

Posted on Nov 22, 2013 | Tagged with: award, Gina Gabrian, Hygienist, MDA

(MONTANA) - The Montana Dental Association (MDA) presented the T.T. Rider Award to Dr. Joel Maes of Helena during its recent annual meeting. Dr. Maes works as a dentist at South Hills Dental located at 2480 Tracy Dr, Helena - 406-443-2780. Dr. Maes is being honored for his dedication to advancing his profession and serving his community.

In 1967, the MDA established an award to be presented to MDA members who have "rendered outstanding service to the profession and to their community." The first award was given in 1969 to Dr. Thomas Thiel Rider of Missoula, and has been presented to outstanding dentists since.

Dr. Maes was chosen for this award for his commitment to dentistry which includes involvement in the Fifth District Dental Society and Montana Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) where he served as president, an AGD Delegate, and member of the Board of Trustees of the Group Benefit Trust, the MDA's member health plan.

In addition to serving as a leader in many organizations, his colleagues in the Fifth District note that he was the inspiration and originator of the MDA's Clinical Excellence Award, created the first free care day in Helena, and was the co-founder (with Dr. John Smith) of the Cooperative Health Center Volunteer Dental Clinic.

He is the Dental Coordinator for Donated Dental Services and has received the National AGD Humanitarian of the Year Award, Regional Public Health Award, MDA Clinical Excellence Award and the 2012 Outstanding Dentist Award, presented by the Montana Dental Hygienists' Association.

Dr. Maes is a volunteer for the Helena Indian Alliance Leo Pocha Clinic and for school dental screenings.

Dr. Maes is a graduate of the University of Montana and the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. Upon graduation he served in the Navy Dental Corps. He moved to Helena and has been serving our community since 1981.

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Media Contact: Dave Hemion (406)443-2061, dave@montanadental.org

Posted on Oct 22, 2013 | Tagged with: award, dentist, Maes, T.T. Rider

Check out our new Montana Healthy Smiles PSA by clicking here.

Posted on Oct 10, 2013

The Montana Oral Health Foundation has selected six students to receive the Mary McCue Predental Student Scholarship award. The scholarship was established to honor the late Ms. McCue's exemplary service and leadership as executive director of the Montana Dental Association and her service to the American Dental Association. The foundation has awarded each of the following Montana students $300 to assist in their pursuit of a career in dentistry:

Alexis Atkinson, a student at Montana State University, who hopes to use dentistry to blend her love of art with her desire to serve her community.

Colin Egan, a Great Falls resident attending Marquette University School of Dentistry, who enjoys the blend of science, art and communication within the dental field.

Ellen Missert, a Montana State University student, who says that she is passionate about dentistry because the field requires one to constantly learn and problem solve while simultaneously helping other people.

Kelsey Fraser, a Miles City resident studying at the University of Colorado Dental School, who plans to return to Montana and practice rural dentistry in order to help people in an underserved area.

Paul Tewson, a Bozeman resident, who is attracted to dentistry because he believes the profession offers him the best opportunity to make a difference in his community.

Stormi Nicole Okerman, a Miles City resident, who says her experience volunteering in dental and oral health outreach, has been invaluable in her decision to become a dentist.

The Mary McCue Predental Student Scholarship award funds students who plan to enter dental school, so that they can attend a predental clinic simulation course. "The members of the Montana Dental Association are proud of the six students who received the scholarship awards," said Dr. Robert A. Neill, president of the Foundation. "We wish these students the best of luck and look forward to following their bright futures and contributions to the dental community," he said.

Posted on Sep 23, 2013

Teams led by dentists across the State have been busy this past year caring for Montana's children in schools! They screened roughly 3,200 children, placed more than 3,000 sealants, and delivered as many fluoride varnish treatments in the 2012-2013 school year. Many families were provided assistance in enrolling their children in Healthy Montana Kids and children identified with urgent treatment needs had their care coordinated with a dentist.

The Caring Foundation (charitable foundation of Blue Cross and Blue Shield) made this an EXTRA SPECIAL year by expanding the program's ability to care for children with a $55,000 grant!!!

Great partnerships have formed this year, including the new Billings Oral Health Alliance consisting of dentists, hygienists, St. Vincent's Children's Hospital, The Ronald McDonald CareMobile, school nurses and other child advocates with the common goal of providing the children of Billings and surrounding areas with great preventative dental care. The Great Falls College-MSU Dental Hygiene and Assisting programs held a sealant program in Great Falls with amazing success!

The Montana Dental Association wants to give a BIG thank you to The Caring Foundation, dentists, hygienists, dental assistants, office staff, school principals, parents, The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, and the Montana Primary Care Association who have made this program a huge success!! The children of Montana thank you!!

Posted on Aug 26, 2013

Dr. Haslam

Billings dentist Dr. Cody Haslam has provided 600 toothbrushes for the African Reflections Foundation which will be traveling to the Mkuranga District in Tanzania on June 23, 2013.

African Reflections Foundation is an organization whose mission is to raise standards of living in Africa by providing clean water and humanitarian aid to those in developing African countries.

"This is important to me because it is a small way that I can help improve the lives of others who are less fortunate," Dr. Haslam said regarding his donation. "In the past when I have sent toothbrushes to Africa those I sent them with noticed that if toothbrushes were available, an entire family would share one toothbrush. This is very unsanitary and easily spreads disease, especially in more poverty-stricken areas. By sending toothbrushes to these areas, it helps improve the overall health by reducing the spread of disease resulting from communal sharing of a single brush."

Dr. Haslam owns Haslam Family Dental Clinic located at 3307 Grand Ave #105 Billings, Montana. He grew up in the Mission Valley in western Montana, where he graduated high school. He attended BYU-Idaho for college and graduated as a Doctor of Dental Surgery from Marquette University. He opened Haslam Family Dental Clinic in 2003 and has been providing excellent dental service ever since.

Posted on Jun 19, 2013

The dental team screened 184 kids, placed 323 sealants and provided 168 fluoride varnishes on elementary students at Ruder Elementary in Columbia Falls, Montana.

Posted on Jun 13, 2013

Dr. Keim and Edgerton student

The Sealants for Smiles! clinic visited Edgerton Elementary in Kalispell this week and screened 88 students, provided fluoride for 84 students and placed 134 sealants.

The team consisted of:

Cameron Clark, DDS Michael Bowman, DDS David Keim, DDS Sarah Uskoski, Dental Assistant for Cameron Clark Alicia Leukuma, DA for Dr. Keim Krista Ruonavaara, RDH for Dr. Keim Pam Yeager, RDH for Dr. Keim

To see more pictures from the Edgerton Sealants and Screenings dayclick here.

Posted on Jun 4, 2013

Hundreds of disabled and elderly citizens throughout Montana have seriously-neglected dental problems. Because of their disabilities or ages, many cannot work.. Montana's Medicaid program provides only limited dental services and Medicare generally does not provide dental treatment. Some people do not qualify for assistance even if they are disabled. As a consequence many disabled and elderly people suffer because they cannot pay for the dental care they need.

The Montana Donated Dental Services (DDS) program was established in 1997 to help some of our most disadvantaged citizens: people who are disabled, elderly, or medically compromised. The dentists volunteering for DDS donate services in their own offices. Dental laboratories also contribute services. Since the DDS program was created, Montana dentists and dental labs have donated more that $2.9 million of free, comprehensive dental treatment to those who cannot afford treatment due to financial limitations associated with their age or disabilities.

Currently, nearly 199 dentists and more than 65 dental laboratories across Montana serve as volunteers for Donated Dental Services.

Posted on May 12, 2013

One hundred and fifty Missoula area children were the recent recipients charitable dental care during the February 1, 2013 "Give Kids a Smile" event. Fifteen area dentists teamed up to donate over $35,000 in dental care, from preventive sealants to restorative work. These children received much needed dental care staged from the office of Dr. Hylton at the Children's Dentistry of the Rockies clinic. "Give Kids a Smile" is an annual nationwide event that helps provide dental care to kids who may not otherwise receive it.

Posted on Feb 26, 2013

Photo by: Paul Ruther/ Billings Gazette

One day is not enough to provide oral-health care for the thousands of the children who need it in Billings.

Some Billings dentists have in the past offered various versions of The American Dental Association's Give Kids a Smile program, a single-day effort that provides dental services to underserved children. While it helped some, it barely made a dent in scores of schoolchildren who need oral-health care.

To address the need, several Billings dentists, the St. Vincent Healthcare Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, hygienists and school nurses have formed the Billings Oral Health Alliance. The goal is to provide oral-health care throughout the school year to schoolchildren most in need.

Until now, each was doing some charity work on his or her own. No one knew what the other was doing.

Dr. Jane Gillette, a Bozeman-based clinical research dentist and practitioner, observed what was happening and helped bring them together. Gillette is one of the nation's leading advocates for reducing health disparities and improving health outcomes. She is assisting the Alliance with its goals.

"Together, we will have a much broader collaborative, more robust and sustainable effort in Billings," said Dr. Christopher Hirt of Turley Dental Care.

The all-volunteer group has identified nine schools in the Billings community where at least 50 percent of the children receive free or reduced lunch. The Alliance is scheduled to begin screening and treating children this fall and continue throughout the 2013-14 school year. The group anticipates seeing 3,000 children.

The dental experts will take their skills directly to the children rather than make parents and children travel to them. Some of the work will be done at the schools. Some of it will be done aboard the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, a pediatric clinic on wheels that delivers free dental care to children in the region. It is one of 44 worldwide.

The group will begin with sealants and then expand to children's emergency oral-health needs. Sealants are typically first applied to children's molars when they are in the second grade, shortly after their first permanent teeth appear. Molars are the most cavity-prone teeth, and sealants act as a barrier against decay-causing bacteria. Research shows that providing sealants through school-based programs is a cost-effective way to reach low-income children, who are at greater risk of decay. In addition to protecting a healthy tooth, sealants can prevent a cavity from forming when applied during the early stages of tooth decay.

"They are relatively easy to apply and are relatively inexpensive," Hirt said. "Tooth decay, tooth pain and tooth problems are huge factors that contribute to kids having trouble in school."

In addition to Hirt and Gillette, those involved in the Alliance are Billings dentists Dr. Amy Fuller; Dr. Chad Kriskovich; Dr. Steve Shimamoto; Ben Tougas of St. Vincent's Ronald McDonald Care Mobile; and Melissa Utley and Shasta Henry, both dental hygienists.

The effort dovetails with the Montana Dental Association's "Sealants for Smiles" program that was launched last year. Its goal was to reach children across the state who are at risk for dental disease. By year's end, dentists and their dental teams screened at least 448 Montana schoolchildren and placed 768 dental sealants in schools. More sealant programs are planned for 2013.

In addition, more than 100 schools, including 71 Indian Health Service schools, have established some sort of school sealant programs that are already in place or are planned for this year.

The focus on children's oral health helps not only them but saves the state money. In 2009, U.S. children made more than 49,000 visits to hospital emergency rooms for preventable dental problems.

In Montana in 2005, the most recent data immediately available, the Montana Dental Association reported that nearly a half-million Medicaid dental dollars each year are spent in hospital emergency rooms, where dental services generally are not provided.

Article Provided by: Billings Gazette- Read more here

Posted on Feb 7, 2013

Story by: The Billings Gazette

One day is not enough to provide oral-health care for the thousands of the children who need it in Billings.

Until now, each was doing some charity work on his or her own. No one knew what the other was doing.

"Together, we will have a much broader collaborative, more robust and sustainable effort in Billings," said Dr. Christopher Hirt of Turley Dental Care.

"They are relatively easy to apply and are relatively inexpensive," Hirt said. "Tooth decay, tooth pain and tooth problems are huge factors that contribute to kids having trouble in school."

In addition, more than 100 schools, including 71 Indian Health Service schools, have established some sort of school sealant programs that are already in place or are planned for this year.

The focus on children's oral health helps not only them but saves the state money. In 2009, U.S. children made more than 49,000 visits to hospital emergency rooms for preventable dental problems.

Posted on Feb 6, 2013

Story By: The Helena Independent Record

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In one of the rooms at Dr. Kevin Rencher's dental office, Austin Reichert is in the chair waiting for the numbness to set in.

He is pretty calm for what is going to happen.

Dr. Jill Ahlers sits to one side of him and dental assistant JoCee Eldridge is on the other side. The talk is light, with the occasional question about how the injection of anesthesia is taking effect.

The 7-year-old boy still has feeling where Ahlers wants numbness to set in.

February is National Children's Dental Health Month and all dentists in Helena as well as many across the state and nation are donating their time to assist children who need dental care that their parents might delay so they could better afford it.

Rencher's office, Pediatric Dentistry, coordinates the free dental care program Give Kids a Smile Day and closes for the day to devote all of its staff and resources to this effort.

"If a child has no dental insurance or no resources to pay for dentistry, we do it free of charge," he said.

For three months, letters were sent out to schools, churches, clinics and to others to find children who would qualify for the free dental care, and those who sign up are parceled out across town to dentists who make time on this day or another day during the month to treat these children.

Rencher has participated in the program for nine or 10 years, ever since he arrived here, he said.

"It's just a way for us to make sure every kid gets the dental care they need," he said.

His office will see perhaps 35 children and then he will be off to St. Peter's Hospital where an operating room will be used for dental care for a child with

special needs. About 250 children will be brought in to see dentists this month as a result of the program that provides hundreds of thousands of dollars of dental care.

Eric Reichert, Austin's dad, is sitting in the room as Ahlers and Eldreidg wait for the last injection to finish blocking nerves.

Austin is going to have three teeth pulled. This isn't what he came into the office thinking was going to happen. The visit was for a routine cleaning, but Ahlers decided the three teeth needed to come out.

The three are baby teeth and one has a large cavity. The other two have infection around them.

"The fact that we took care of it before it caused him a bigger issue, that's the important thing," she said.

Eric Reichert appreciates the program and the assistance that it provides to families.

"It just helps out a ton for families like us who are paycheck to paycheck," he said.

Looking at his son, reclining in the chair, he smiles.

"He's not real happy to be here, but I'm real impressed," he said.

Next door, Sheri Sullivan, who is self-employed and performs after-market work on vehicles, is sitting in the room with her daughter, ShiJia, 8, who is having four cavities filled and her teeth sealed to help prevent future cavities.

Dr. Lacy Claeys is in there working with her. Dr. Tim Ballweber is another of those who are volunteering and staffing rooms at Rencher's office.

"Dental insurance is expensive and it's hard to get," ShiJia's mom said. "When you're self-employed, it's a tough one."

This the first time Sullivan has taken advantage of the dental program, and she is pleased with how well her daughter is doing. The little girl has been in the dental chair for nearly an hour.

"You're doing good, ShiJia. You're doing very good. Almost done, baby," she said to help comfort the child as the dentist and a dental assistant work.

Schuman said she likes working with children and she feels good by what she is able to do for them.

For her, she explains, it's "just knowing that you've helped people out who may not have been able to see a dentist."

Posted on Feb 4, 2013

Story By: KRTV

A national and state-wide event just became a little more personal thanks to determined Great Falls College-MSU students hoping to make a difference for the homeless.

Several Montana cities are working with the Montana Dental Association offering free preventive healthcare to low-income families and the homeless.

Great Falls College-MSU dental hygiene students got the idea to bring Project Homeless Connect closer to home after seeing success in other cities.

Missoula, Billings, and Bozeman all have similar events, and the Great Falls students are hoping to make this one an annual event.

"We attended the event as a class in Kalispell last June. And we just, me and my co-chair Kelly McDonald, just kind of fell in love with it," Katie Zignego said. "We thought it was really good. We could see there was a huge need, people were extremely grateful. And dental services are really sought after so obviously being a dental hygiene student we focused on that."

Other services were offered at the event on Saturday.

Cosmetology students were on hand to give guests haircuts and local organizations like the Center for Mental Health, Job Services, and Vets 4 Vets were there to offer free services to anyone in need.

Posted on Jan 26, 2013

Story By: The Bozeman Chronicle

For Darrell, coming to the First Presbyterian Church on Saturday afternoon meant seeing old friends and getting a fresh haircut.

Just about to leave for the bus, the 62-year-old raved about his new do.

"They do a great job," Darrell said of the volunteers from the Academy of Cosmetology who were giving free haircuts at the fifth annual Project Homeless Connect.

Darrell appreciated the free services provided to him and the more than 200 others who were expected to come to Project Homeless Connect. He had only one gripe.

"It would be great if it was more than once a year," Darrell said with a smile.

The project spread out around the First Presbyterian Church in downtown Bozeman Saturday afternoon.

Like Darrell, many people came for the haircuts. But there were dozens of local organizations providing free services to people of all walks of life.

Advanced Eye Care Associates gave out free eye exams while the Gallatin Empire Lions Club handed out eyeglasses.

Parked outside the church was the Bozeman Deaconess Hospital Community Care Connect bus, which gave out tetanus, pneumonia and season flu vaccinations, blood pressure screenings, breast exams and pharmaceutical consultations.

Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter doled out pet food, leashes and other animal care items.

Hot meals and free clothing were given out by the Salvation Army.

And people were provided information from organizations like HAVEN, the Help Center, the Bozeman School District, the Office of Public Assistance, Alcohol and Drug Services, Gallatin Mental Health and Job Service, among others.

New this year, Pro Chiropractic provided chiropractic care, another popular service.

But what brings people in the most is the dental clinic, this year set up in a larger area of the church.

More than 20 dentists, 15 hygienists and 10 dental assistants, along with dental, nursing and medical students, kept busy cleaning and pulling teeth, putting in temporary fillings and providing information.

When the day was done, AmeriCorps Vista Ellen Missert estimated nearly $30,000 of dental care would be donated to the needy.

"They will wait all day to come to dental," Missert said.

And the kind donations do not go unnoticed by those receiving the free care.

"Sometimes they come in in pain," Missert said. "They are very appreciative."

The event, which ran from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., had already attracted 180 people by 11:30 that morning, director Bridget Pitman said.

While dubbed Homeless Connect, Pitman said anyone who was low-income, or just having a bad year could stop in for help.

"Anyone that needs these services," she said.

The event was put together with donations from the community as well as more than 100 volunteers.

"It's incredibly generous donations," Pitman said. "It's definitely a community feat."

Posted on Jan 25, 2013

By: Amanda RickerBozeman Daily Chronicle

WILLOW CREEK - Dental illness is one of the most common reasons children miss school.

And in rural towns like this one, it's doubly hard to access a dentist.

But thanks to a free program from area dentists, students at Willow Creek School filed into a classroom on Tuesday for exams, fluoride treatments and sealants.

"How many teeth do you think you have?" Bozeman dentist Dr. Will Samson asked preschool student Whit Oliver as the young boy sat for an exam.

"Maybe 100?" assistant Ellen Missert joked as Whit smiled.

Nearly 60 dentists and dental hygienists in Gallatin and Park counties volunteer with Sealants for Smiles, a donation-based program that's part of a national push to improve children's oral health, said Dr. Jane Gillette, a Bozeman dentist.

"Tooth decay is the number one chronic childhood disease, 11 times more common than hay-fever and eight times more common than asthma," Gillette said.

She said one of the goals of the federal Oral Health Initiative is to increase preventative dental services for children who are publicly insured.

This year, area dentists with Sealants for Smiles will visit 40 schools across Montana, Gillette said. Schools targeted have 50 percent or more students who qualify for free and reduced lunch, though, every student in the school gets an exam.

Dr. Samson, of Summit Dental, sent children at Willow Creek School home on Tuesday with a dental "report card," telling their parents whether they have cavities, if he gave them fluoride or sealants and whether they need additional dental care. In addition, parents learned how to get help applying for Healthy Montana Kids, the state's free or low-cost health coverage program for children.

The school's principal, Bonnie Lower, said parents and students are excited about the program.

"You can't beat it - teeth getting checked and sealed - that's kind of a pricey venture," she said.

Posted on Dec 5, 2012 | Tagged with: dentists, kids, rural, Sealants for Smiles, students, Summit Dental, volunteer, Willow Creek School

By B.L. AzureChar-Koosta News

POLSON The adage: "You can never go home," doesn't hold much sway in Indian Country, where you can always go home. It is always there, terra firma that is more than the sum of its parts. It's a lighted harbor in the night, a warm blanket in the chill a spiritual hug of inclusion that doesn't exist with the masses of individuals in the world outside of Indian Country.

Thirty-nine-year-old Darby Lefler recently returned home to Indian Country here on the Flathead Reservation. He was beckoned by the spiritual under current that tugs at the soul of those Indians who leave their homelands for the larger world beyond reservation boundaries. It was part homesickness and part sense of purpose: to come back home to help the people, the tribal people that pulled Lefler back.

"I was ready to come back home when I was twenty," Lefler said. "This has been a long time coming."

Lefler graduated from Arlee High School in 1991 then attended the University of Montana for a short time. However the University didn't have a tight bite on the young Arleesian the first go round. A thin wallet with sparse folding money was a motivating factor to leave the University to make a buck.

He found a decent-paying job and a nomadic lifestyle in the construction field, building radio and cell-phone towers throughout much of the western United States.

"I was doing everything I could to turn a buck," he said about his highly dangerous high-wire-act job where he worked tethered to towers ranging from 200- to nearly 900-feet. The taller ones took more than an hour to climb to the top. The views were good, the pay was good but something was missing in his turning-the-buck lifestyle.

While at the University of Montana, Lefler had sought a degree in microbiology. In the back of his mind, he always felt he had some uncompleted business to take care of.

While working near Baker on the vast eastern Montana prairies he received a call from his mother, Penny Lefler, about the National Society of American Indian Dentists' confab taking place in Polson. The gathering featured Dr. George Blue Spruce, the first American Indian dentist in America.

"I was so excited about the conference and the opportunity to meet Blue Spruce that I loaded up after work and drove all night long to be in Polson," Lefler said. The excitement soon turned to renewed commitment to finish work on his microbiology degree. He went back to the University in 2002 and graduated with a microbiology degree in 2005.

When attending UM the second time Lefler volunteered to work at various medical-related businesses and facilities.

"One day I started working in a dental clinic," Lefler said. "I ended up working there for a year and a half, eventually becoming a dental assistant."

The experience cemented Lefler's commitment to dentistry.

Following graduation Lefler applied for enrollment at three dental schools. He was accepted at two and eventually chose the Arizona School of Dentistry in Mesa, Arizona. He enrolled in the fall of 2005 and graduated in 2009.

"It is a relatively new private school that has public health as its mission. That is to deliver dental care to recognized under served populations," Lefler said. "They want to educate students that want to serve those areas where people have limited access to quality dental care. There is tremendous health disparity in populations with low social or economic opportunities. That includes Indian reservations."

Following dental school graduation, Lefler worked in a private practice in Missoula. However, Tribal Health and Human Services Department Director Kevin Howlett was aware of Lefler, a descendent of the Salish Tribe. Howlett and Dr. Gary Pitts, director of the THHS Dental Program put out feelers to Lefler and encouraged him to consider working for THHS.

"The children's dentist was a missing part of the dental program that we felt was vital to fulfilling our mission," Howlett said, adding that he has known Lefler and his family for most of his life. "Darby is a very personable person with a good outlook on life and a desire to serve."

This past June Lefler started work at THHS with a toe-dipping approach testing the waters at THHS one day a week. One week he would be in St. Ignatius THHS Dental Clinic and the next he would be at Polson.

The toe-dip into the dental waters on the reservation proved to be warm and welcoming and Lefler recently accepted a full time position with THHS. He splits time between the two THHS Dental Clinics.

"We wanted him to try it out to give him insight on our program and policies, and to give us some insight on him," Pitts said. "It worked out well for both parties and we offered him a contract this fall which he signed."

"I feel well trained, educated for this position," Lefler said. "I love working with kids. I used to coach wrestling and other sports. I have the patience needed for working with the young patients. That calm and caring demeanor is important when working with young children whether it's coaching them or taking care of their dental needs. I am feeling very purposeful here. This is a great opportunity to be a part of this new program. I am the first pedodontist here and I want to build a quality program that serves the disadvantaged children for the right reasons."

That commitment and youthful energy sets well with Pitts, who himself has worked on under served Indian reservations, including the Flathead Reservation once before this stint.

"The pedodontic (children's dentist) position is new. It always has been more of a dream to get a pedodontist on staff," said Pitts. Pedodontic dentists treat children from 2 to 5 years old. "I made a run at this position before when I worked for the Indian Health Service in Browning."

Pitts wrote a successful grant while at Browning that funded the pedodontic education of a tribal person. However, it didn't work out well because the person selected and educated soon left the IHS to work in the private sector.

"We had a hidden agenda of sorts, with bringing the conference here," Pitts said about the National Society of American Indian Dentists' conference. "We brought in some young adults so we would have some people in the seats who might get hooked on the possibility of becoming a dentist. Darby was there too. He showed a commitment by driving all night across the state to be there. We recognized that."

The result is an equation that is more than the sum of its parts and provides dental services for young tribal children so they don't have to go off the reservation for dental work.

"We feel the expanded services will serve our community well," Pitts said. The nearest pedodontists are located in Missoula and Kalispell. "A lot of the people we serve were taking their children to dentists just off the reservation."

Last week, Lefler got a chance to meet with lots of potential young patients at the Polson THHS Dental Clinic's Halloween open house and tour for students in the Early Childhood Services program.

"This is great," he said. "We want children to come to us without the fear that commonly goes with dental visits. This way they see us in another light."

It is a bright and unthreatening light that will show youngsters and their parents the path to good dental hygiene.

Darby and wife Emily were recently blessed with their first child, 4-month-old daughter, Grace.

Posted on Nov 9, 2012 | Tagged with: Darby Lefler, dentist, Flathead Reservation, Jocko Vally, Native, Polson, serve

Story By:KRTV

A Great Falls dentist is fighting to curb childhood obesity and tooth decay by giving kids an incentive to get rid of their excess Halloween candy.

Dr. Allan Crist is giving kids $1 per pound of candy they bring in.

Later this month, candy and donations will be shipped to Operation Gratitude, who will ship it to military personnel serving overseas.

Dr. Crist says with sugar consumption in the United states at an all time high, he's hoping to get a little extra candy out of children's hands.

Posted on Nov 2, 2012

"Sometimes our veterans are too proud to ask for help" says Dr. Ken Small, a long-time Montana dentist from Great Falls and a Navy veteran himself. "A toothache hurts all the same regardless of who you are and whether or not you have insurance. The goal of the "Vets 4 Vets Stand Down" is to make sure no veteran goes without their medical questions answered, health screening, boots or clothing."

Dr. Small and a team of six other Great Falls dentists have been supporting military veterans as part of a program called "Vets 4 Vets Stand Down," providing free dental screenings, consulting, as well as resources for local organizations that also provide help to veterans.

The "Vets 4 Vets Stand Down" was started in 2008 by a group of volunteers and medical professionals, including dentists, as a way of supporting their communities and families involved in military service.

By utilizing surplus military equipment coupled with local medical resources, these volunteers have been able to grow the program from a one-day event that served 276 vets to serving nearly 1,500 veterans over 3 days.

"It's hard to look around and see veterans who have served us struggle to serve themselves," says Dr. Small. "Vet's 4 Vet's Stand Down" will expand the program over the next several years.

"Throughout Montana, members of the Montana Dental Association go the extra mile to serve their communities and improve access to high quality dental services," says David Hemion, Executive Director of the MDA. "Whether it's Dr. Small and his colleagues serving military veterans, others who provide care to people who are impoverished or dentists who work with their local schools to expand education about the importance good oral health, dentists are among the most active charitable citizens in our communities."

Contact Rodger McConnell (406)727-3939

Dr. Ken Small, DMD

Posted on Jun 8, 2012 | Tagged with: dentist, Great Falls, military, service, Veterans, Vets 4 Vets, volunteer

Miles City, MT - After 65 years of practice, Miles City dentist Dr. Arlo D. Nansel will retire on June 30th.

Dr. Nansel is a native of Hysham, Montana. Following service in the United State Navy, Dr. Nansel attended the University of Southern California School of Dentistry. He then opened his practice in 1947. Dr. Nansel has been providing care to thousands of patients ever since.

In addition to his practice, Dr. Nansel served as president of the Montana Board of Dental Examiners and on the Montana Board of Health.

"Generations of Montana dentists appreciate Dr. Nansel's wonderful dedication to his profession," said David Hemion, executive director of the Montana Dental Association. "As the longest practicing dentist in Montana's history, his record of patient care and service to the state of Montana on the dental board and board of health are an inspiration to all."

Dr. Nansel and his late wife Ruth raised their five children, Ron, Darla, Denise, Debbie and Deena, in Miles City. Daughters, Darla and Debbie, followed in their father footsteps as dental hygienists working in their father's practice. They started the Flying N Ranch in 1953 where they raised Horned Herefords, award winning Quarter and Appaloosa show horses, Selers cattle, and black polled bulls.

Posted on May 28, 2012 | Tagged with: Arlo Nansel, dentist, Miles City, Navy, Nensel, retire, service, USC

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