Community Dentistry & Oral Disease Prevention
History
Community service with a focus on children is at the very core of
Dentistry's mission. It began with George Eastman's vision - a vision
of healthy smiles for every child in Rochester, regardless of economic
circumstances. The purpose of the program is to provide preventative
and basic dental care services primarily for under-served, and socio-economically
disadvantaged children in Rochester area inner city and rural communities.
 SMILEmobile Program
The SMILEmobile Dental Health Program for children originated in
1967 as a joint effort by the Monroe County Dental Society and Eastman
Dental Center to provide basic dental care for the inner-city children
of Rochester, New York. The SMILEmobiles are fully equipped trailers
that provide preventative and basic oral health care for children
year round. The units are parked adjacent to the host school for
three to six weeks. Each child receives a complete oral examination,
x-rays, cleaning, and fluoride treatment. Other services include
sealants, amalgam and composite restorations, stainless steel crowns,
and extractions. Referrals for specialty services, such as space
maintainers and endodontics, are coordinated with the Pediatric
Dentistry Program located at the Eastman Dental Center site and
other local dental clinic facilities.
 Satellite Clinics
Community Dentistry currently has four permanent satellite clinics.
They are located at Orchard Street Community
Health Center at School #17,
and the clinics at Hillside Children's Center and Downtown Health Care
Center. Like the SMILEmobile,
each clinic is fully staffed with a dentist, hygienist, dental assistant
and administrative coordinator.
Population Served
- 15 Elementary Schools in Rochester Rural Elementary Schools
- 7 Head Start Programs
- County Health Departments in Steuben,
Genesee and Wayne counties
 Satellite Clinics:
- Orchard Street Community Health Center at School #17: (585)
436-8123
- Hillside Children's Center : (585) 256-7894
- Downtown Health Care Center: (585) 263-6599
- SMILEmobile: (585) 275-5007.
 Oral Health Care for Underserved & Uninsured
The Downtown Health Care Center dental clinic is a collaborative
effort involving Eastman Dental Center, Highland Hospital, and Rochester
Primary Care Network. The Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation Outreach
Dental Center at School #17 is a partnership involving School No.
17 and the Rochester City School District, the University of Rochester
Medical Center, Eastman Dental Center, Strong Health, Rochester
Primary Care Network and Unity Health System, which operates the
on-site medical center. Both clinics provide preventive and primary
dental care services for both children and adults with its primary
focus on under-served, uninsured and the homeless populations.
 Staff at Each Site
- Pediatric/General Dentist
- Pediatric/General Residents
- Dental Hygienist
- Dental Assistant
- Administrative coordinator
Support for Services
- Medicaid (Managed Care)
- Federal, state, and county grants and contracts
- Community grants and contributions
- Eastman Dental Center annual giving
- Professional and corporate donations
Educational Services
Oral-health education is provided on the SMILEmobile and other outreach
school dental clinics to each child who is treated as well as to
other non-participating children in the classrooms. Formal and informal
presentations on the importance of children's dental health care
are also provided to parents, guardians, teachers, school nurses,
social workers, community leaders, and day care centers.
Community Services
Oral health screenings and referral services are provided for inner
city as well as rural elementary schools, ABC Head Start, and other
neighborhood civic organizations.
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