Ann Arbor, MI — June 13, 2005 — Twenty-four student dentists from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry will be providing oral health care to migrant workers and their children this summer in the Traverse City area. The annual program begins June 20 and ends July 29.

Children will receive the oral health care during the day at the Lakeland Elementary School, 616 Buckley St., Elk Rapids; the Kaleva Community Elementary School, 9208 Kauko Street; and the Suttons Bay Elementary School, 310 Elm Street. The adults will receive the care in the late afternoon or early evening at the same locations.

Portable equipment, including x-ray machines, dental chairs, air, and water will be set up in classrooms at the schools allowing the dental students to provide the free services. The services include screenings, oral exams, and cleanings. When necessary, extractions, fillings, and x-rays will also be offered.

"The program is one of our most popular," said Dr. Robert Bagramian, a professor of dentistry who directs the Summer Migrant Dental Clinic Program. "Every year, we have about twice as many volunteers as we have spaces available. This year was no exception." Students selected for the summer program are in the upper level of their class, academically and clinically, and have demonstrated a commitment to serving others.

The dental students will work for two-week rotations in groups of eight. They will staff the clinics and will be supervised by Dr. Augusto Robles, who supervised the students last summer, and Dr. Iliana Fingleton, a graduate student in restorative dentistry.

"The need for this program continues to be demonstrated time and again," Bagramian said, noting that last summer 360 children and adults were screened, an increase of 9 percent compared to the summer of 2003. Procedures included oral exams, fillings (both amalgams and composites), extractions, and x-rays.

In addition to providing services, the dental students often develop classroom skits that provide the children with helpful information. Last year, for example, the dental students used construction paper to illustrate gums and teeth and then demonstrated how to properly use a toothbrush to get rid of "sugar bugs" (germs).

In another skit, to make it easy for children to understand the importance of flossing, dental students stood shoulder-to-shoulder and moved a jump rope up and down to demonstrate the proper way to floss.

The Summer Migrant Dental Clinic Program is funded by the School of Dentistry and Northwest Michigan Health Services. The Michigan Primary Care Association also provides support including limited funds to pay for housing, transportation, and food for the dental students.

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: www.dent.umich.edu.