Greater Boston Dental Community Brings Pop-Up Dental Clinic to Fenway Park for Boston Area Children
Massachusetts oral health leaders Delta Dental of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Dental Society, and DentaQuest, joined TeamSmile on May 3 to bring a dental clinic for at-risk kids to Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. More than 250 area children from Brooke Charter School in Roslindale, Brooke Charter School in Mattapan, and Higginson/Lewis School in Roxbury received free dental care.
The Red Sox clinic was underwritten by grants from Delta Dental, Massachusetts Dental Society, and DentaQuest. TeamSmile’s mission is to create a fun dental experience for children who need care. They do this in cooperation with local professional sports teams, creating a memorable and healthy experience for the children.
TeamSmile arrived with 16 portable dental chairs and 12 hygiene stations which were set up in Fenway Park suites. Children received dental screenings and cleanings, had preventive dental sealants applied to their teeth to prevent decay, had cavities repaired, and learned how to keep their mouths and teeth healthy at home. For some of the children, this was their first dental screening and cleaning. Several dentists at the clinic were able to administer silver diamine fluoride as a pain-free preventive treatment.
Expert dental care was provided by volunteer dentists, many are members of the Massachusetts Dental Society and their clinical support staff. Student dentists from Tufts University and Boston University Schools of Dentistry found the clinic offered great community experience for pediatric dental care. Henry Schein Dental, the U.S. dental business of Henry Schein, Inc., donated dental materials, supplies, equipment, and the time of several technicians onsite who maintained the dental equipment during the day. General volunteers from the community and the sponsoring organizations entertained the children as they waited and guided them through the various stations.
TeamSmile and its Boston partners believe preventive oral health services are essential for children to stay healthy and ready to learn. Poor oral health can have a negative effect on a child’s overall health, performance at school, and success later in life. Tooth decay is preventable. If we can keep kids’ mouths healthy into their teen years, they have a good chance of staying healthy for life.
About TeamSmile
TeamSmile is a national nonprofit that has created partnerships with professional sports teams, local dentists, dental organizations, dental schools and area volunteers to promote the importance of oral health care. Over the course of a year, TeamSmile hosts 30 dental clinics, caring for 200 to 300 children at each. A typical clinic provides $75,000 to $125,000 in free dental care. For more information on TeamSmile, visit www.teamsmile.org.
