Mobile dental clinic looks to get rolling

GRAND CHUTE - It's children's day at the Tri-County Community Dental Clinic in Grand Chute and a bus load of elementary school students from schools in Winnebago County fill the office.

"A lot of the kids here it is their first dental experience so we do we try to make it positive for them because the last thing you want to do is set them up for later in life being afraid of the dentist," said volunteer dentist Tony Kraft of Seymour.

Volunteers say they are happy to help because if they didn't, they worry many of the children would never get any dental care at all. The clinic serves children and low income families in Winnebago, Calumet and Outagamie counties. Currently there are 8,500 elementary school students, alone, in the three counties qualify for free dental care.

"Set the stage and say look at, we're gonna take care of your teeth now when you are younger and I think as they get into teenage years and into adulthood, they don't really have many teeth problems and that's perfect, if you catch them early that's the key," said Kraft.

But according to the clinic's executive director, Robert Glass, the problem for many of them is accessibility. But that will soon be changing, thanks to a new mobile dental clinic. The bus and its volunteer dentists and hygienists will travel to those who can't make it to the clinic.

"We're going to get to the schools and treat the restorative work of the children right at the schools," said Glass.

Eileen Connely-Kiessler with the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation says the area of greatest need is in Winnebago County, where for many children and adults, getting to the clinic in Grand Chute is a major obstacle.

"After we get through all the schools, then we can look at the other areas, maybe Omro, Pickett, Winneconne that have needs for adults and children," she said.

The bus and equipment will cost about $780,000 to purchase and operate in the first year. It will cost around $260,000 to operate each year after that. The bus is completely funded through donations. But organizers hope the smiles made possible by the new bus...will make it all worth while.