UAM Seeks Volunteers for ArMOM Dental Clinic
Susan Pruitt
Senior Staff Writer
MONTICELLO - Imagine lying on your bed holding a heating pad to the side of your face. Your heart beat pounds inside your head as tears form in the corner of your eyes. The pain sears through your jaw. Your tooth needs to be pulled. At this point, most people consider making an appointment to see their dentist, but for approximately 60 percent of Arkansans without dental insurance, this is simply not an option.
In its fourth year of operation, the Arkansas Mission of Mercy plans to hold a free clinic May 21 and 22 at the John F. Gibson University Center on the University of Arkansas at Monticello campus. ArMOM allows low-income and uninsured Arkansans to get fillings and extractions. Over the past three years, ArMOM has treated more than 4,900 people, extracted 8,605 teeth and provided 4,074 fillings, all at a value of more than $2 million. The Arkansas State Dental Association sponsors ArMOM.
Billy Tarpley, executive director of the Arkansas State Dental Association, said the Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation helped organize the first ArMOM in 2007, but volunteers from several states including Virginia came to Arkansas to help. Since that time, several Arkansas dentists have traveled to other states to help establish MOM events.
“All MOM’s in the nation recognize that there is a significant number of Americans who cannot afford or do not have access to appropriate dental care; therefore, ArMOM meets a basic need that values all human beings, regardless of their age or social status,” Tarpley said.
Volunteering
In 2009, more than 900 people volunteered to help provide basic dental care to adults and children of all ages on a first-come, first-served basis. Among the volunteers were approximately 175 dentists.
Clay Brown, vice-chancellor of University Relations and Student Affairs, said he urges the UAM campus to donate their time and talents to provide support for this year’s event. Most volunteer duties include: patient check-in, patient escorting, hospitality room and central supply stocking. However, set-up and breakdown assistance is needed as well.
“One of the most significant parts of this event is the number of volunteers needed to ensure its success. Historically, this clinic has required 800 to 1,000 volunteers for effectiveness,” Brown said.
Brown said Tim Chase, local dentist and Monticello City Councilman, guided ArMOM to the UAM campus. Brown said when Monticello placed its bid for the clinic; one of the sentiments expressed was that this area of the state could not supply the needed number of volunteers. Brown said Chase expects up to 3,500 Arkansans to participate in ArMOM this year.
If you are interested in volunteering, please follow the simple steps below:
- Go to the following link: http://www.dental-asda.org/asdaweb_007.htm
- On the right-hand side of the page, click on the highlighted link titled: “Click here to Register as a Volunteer.”
- Complete the on-line form. Click on “Continue” at the end of the form for submission.
After completing the online form, you should receive an e-mail confirmation that your on-line registration has been received. You will also receive an electronic packet or an information packet via U.S. mail providing further instructions.
Translating
Isabel Bacon, assistant professor of Spanish and director of Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistants, said ArMOM contacted her about needing interpreters for the event. She said English-Spanish-English interpreters plan to help with ArMOM because of the number of Hispanics in the area. Interpreters will be available both days.
“I think it´s great. We, at UAM, will have an opportunity to serve the community in which we are located and our students will be able to get involved and receive training as volunteers on one of the many ways all of us can make a difference,” Bacon said.
Bacon said UAM students plan to work as interpreters along with Spanish teachers in the area. To qualify as an interpreter, students must be fluent, or at least nearly fluent, in the language.
UAM students interpreting for ArMOM include:
- Kevin Shelby
- Ruth Gordon
- Alejandro Villeda
- Daniel Gonzales
- Kyle White
- Rebecca Friend
- Alma Rivera
In addition to teachers and UAM students, Bacon said members of Delta Zeta Epsilon, UAM’s Foreign Language Honorary Society, also plan to help with ArMOM.
Educating
The Delta Dental Foundation, who funded $100,000 for the 2009 ArMOM dental clinic, has Smile! Arkansas, which is the Foundation's statewide philanthropic and volunteer effort to educate Arkansans about oral health care issues, foster prevention and help those who are most in need.
Since 2002, Smile! Arkansas has contributed more than $2 million for multiple projects, including distributing oral health education kits to every Arkansas elementary school, providing scholarships for dental students and helping support charitable dental clinics with essential supplies and costly equipment.
In addition to Smile! Arkansas, Delta Dental also provides reasonable dental insurance.
Tips for improving oral health include:
- Brush your teeth with ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste and replace your toothbrush every three or four months. A worn toothbrush won't do a good job of cleaning your teeth.
- Clean between your teeth daily with floss. This helps remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line.
- Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks.
Should you have specific questions about ArMOM, please contact your local dental health provider or Terry Fidler, 2010 ArMOM chairman, at fiddler@tcworks.net.
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