U-M Dental Students to Help the Underserved in June & July

The dental students participating in the Summer Migrant Dental Clinic Program will provide a range of free services at three sites beginning June 21 and continuing through July 30.  The three Michigan sites where care will be available Monday through Friday are:

• Mill Creek Elementary School , 9039 Old M-72, Williamsburg
• Kaleva Community Elementary School , 9208 Kauko Street
• Suttons Bay Elementary School , 310 Elm Street

Among the basic services that will be available include screenings, oral exams, and cleanings.  When necessary, extractions, fillings, and x-rays will also be offered.  The program also has a valuable educational component as dental students advise parents and children on the correct way to care for their teeth and other actions they can take to improve their oral health.

Portable equipment, including dental chairs, drills, air, water, and x-ray machines, will be set up at all locations.  Children of the migrant workers will receive dental care during the day at the schools while their parents are working.  Adults will receive oral health care in the late afternoon or early evening.

Dr. Robert Bagramian, professor of dentistry and program director, said, “This venture, which continues to be one of the School’s most popular, demonstrates the University’s and the School of Dentistry’s commitment to the State of Michigan.”  He said the program serves many purposes, “the foremost being providing oral health care to those who need it but are unable to obtain it.  It also offers our students an opportunity to enhance their skills and to learn more about individuals with diverse backgrounds.”

More Volunteers Than Open Positions

As in previous years, Bagramian said there were more volunteers for this summer’s program than there were spaces available.  Twenty-four dental students, all of whom begin the final year of their dental education beginning in late August, will provide the oral health care.  The dental students, who work for two weeks in groups of eight, will be supervised by Dr. Kelly Burgess, who received her DDS from U-M in May, and Dr. Augusto Robles, a graduate student in restorative dentistry.

Following their rotations, students evaluate the program.  Among the comments students last summer offered included:  “This was the greatest experience I had in dental school,” “I wish the program was longer,” “This community service learning experience is a valuable part of my education,” “It demonstrated how I can make a positive difference,” and “It provided opportunities to my knowledge to good use outside the classroom.”

Last summer, nearly 330 adults and children received oral health care at the three sites.  Care ranged from screenings to x-rays, extractions, and fillings (amalgams and composites).

Funding for the program is made possible by the Northwest Michigan Health Services Migrant Health Program and the Michigan Primary Care Association.

The University of Michigan School of Dentistry is one of the nation’s leading dental schools engaged in oral health care education, research, patient care, and community service.  General dental care clinics and specialty clinics providing advanced treatment enable the School to offer dental services and programs to patients throughout Michigan .  Classroom and clinic instruction prepare future dentists, dental specialists, and dental hygienists for practice in private offices, hospitals, academia, and public agencies.  Research seeks to discover and apply new knowledge that can help patients worldwide. For more information about the School of Dentistry, visit the Web at http://www.dent.umich.edu.

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