Dental clinic helps area children

by David Roy
Southwest Smile Makers Dental Clinic Southwest Smile Makers Dental Clinic has undergone many manifestations over the last decade in its quest to meet children's dental needs. Beginning in a small clinic room at San Juan Basin Health Department, the clinic got mobile - first as a portable dental-hygiene clinic traveling to elementary schools in four counties, then operating out of a diesel bus for a number of years. The journey ended in early 2008 when the program found a permanent location in the Commons building on Camino del Rio.

This new home consisted of a tiny waiting room connected to a small room with one dental chair. Throughout 2008 and the first half of 2009, we were seeing patients three days a week. It became apparent, however, the need for services outweighed our ability to provide care. Our parent agency, San Juan Basin Health Department, believed accessible dental care for all children in our community was a crucial component of public health. To ensure accessibility and meet the growing need, Southwest Smile Makers would itself have to grow.

The first step toward expansion was made possible through a grant from the Colorado Rural Health Care Foundation. We expanded our physical space to three rooms with two dental chairs. An electronic filing system with digital x-ray capabilities eliminated paper charts and filing cabinets (a great help when space is limited).

With these new physical capabilities, the next step was finding consistent, reliable dental-care professionals. Dental hygienist Bonnie Hooper began working with Smile Makers in 2008. She quickly became a permanent fixture at our clinic, managing day-to-day operations while, of course, cleaning teeth. Hooper faced the added challenge of replacing the irreplaceable, long-time backbone of Smile Makers - hygienist Marie Hustafa, who retired.

Next, Dr. Laura Sathre, a recent graduate of the University of Colorado School of Dentistry, joined the team. Sathre hit the ground running, as her schedule was booked months before even arriving in Durango. Fortunately, she and Hooper proved more than up to the challenge. They are affectionately referred to as the "dream team" around our office.

Southwest Smile Makers is now open four days a week, offering full dental services to children ages infant to 21 years old with Medicaid and CHP+. A sliding-fee scale is offered for children who do not have dental insurance. Additionally, both Sathre and Hooper will be providing dental screenings and cleanings for all elementary school students in Durango, Silverton and Pagosa Springs at Smile Makers's annual, school-based hygiene clinics.

Our program is supported through fees, grants and donations - with special thanks to the local United Way we can always count on, as well as San Juan Basin Health Department, whose unwavering support sees this dental clinic through thick and thin. If you are interested in our services or would like to make a donation, please call 385-4480.

David Roy is the program director for the Southwest Smile Makers Dental Clinic.