The Fowler Memorial Free Dental Clinic opened its doors for the first time this year in April 2009. The main mission of the clinic is to provide dental care to Green County children, ages 3-12, who do not have access to dental care and whose parents are income eligible. Patients are scheduled for the clinic by referral from school nurses, public health nurses, emergency room staff, pediatrics and social services. Since April 2009, there have been almost 200 patients who received dental care including exams, X-rays, extractions, fillings, root canals, cleanings, fluoride treatment, sealants and oral health care instruction. As a follow through from receiving this instruction, the children are given 30-day calendars to remind them to brush and floss their teeth every day. When they have filled each day of the calendar with stickers that are provided to them, they receive a gift certificate. There have been over 100 calendars returned to the clinic to claim their gift certificate. The parent or guardian has to sign the calendar so they are involved in forming the habit to daily brush and floss their teeth. We have had many comments about how the children are regularly brushing and flossing their teeth long after they completed their calendar. Another landmark for this clinic is the fact that patients have returned to the clinic for their bi-annual cleaning appointment. This is significant in the fact the clinic is also these children's dental home; whereas before they had no dental home.

All of the accomplishments of this clinic could not have been possible without the volunteer dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants and many others including the support of the United Way of Green County. The support we have received has helped pay for dental supplies and equipment needed to take care of these children. Before this clinic came to be, there was no other place these children could go for dental care. There have been children with extreme pain who are now pain free and on their way to having healthy teeth and gums. Thanks to the support of the United Way of Green County we can afford to be available to care for these children and make a difference in their oral health which affects their overall health. These children smile as they leave the clinic with a healthy, brighter future and a place where they can have their teeth taken care of on an emergency as well as routine basis. Thank you to all those who support the United Way of Green County; your contributions help them provide needed funding to the Fowler Memorial Free Dental Clinic and 26 other important not-profit organizations in our community. Together we are making a difference where it really counts.

For more information about this program please contact: AnnaMaria Bliven, Clinic Coordinator at (608) 328-9404.