Las Vegas dental clinic provides health care to at-risk students

Clark High School freshman Sara Dula hadn't seen a dentist in years. Her family couldn't afford it. Her lack of regular check ups probably would have continued had the dentist not come to her.

Future Smiles, a nonprofit group that provides oral health care to at-risk students, opened a clinic last month in a modular building at Clark, 4291 W. Pennwood Ave. The center serves students 18 or younger from low-income families. Its goal is to improve oral health in the community and increase access to education about preventative care.

The center is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday to any child in the community.

Sara was glad to have the opportunity to have her teeth cleaned again. She and her family have struggled since her mom lost her job a few years ago. They barely get by on her father's wages, she said.

"I think it's good that it's here at the school," Sara said. "There's kids who don't have the money, and this would be really good for them."

About 65 percent of third-graders in Nevada experience tooth decay, according to a 2009 study by the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services. The national average is 53 percent. Among minority children, the rate is 78 percent.

In Clark County, nearly 10 percent of third-graders had never been to a dentist. Also, one-third of children aren't covered by dental insurance.

Clark sent out forms to the families of students who qualified for screenings, based on income, family size and a number of other factors . Students whose parents gave consent go to the clinic during elective classes.

Catherine Carreiro, the clinic's lead hygienist, welcomes each student at the front door and takes them into a room with a green reclining chair, some portable equipment and an array of soothing photos of far away places on the walls.

She started with Future Smiles in January, and there's no place she'd rather be.

"My main focus was children and overcoming barriers," Carreiro said. "This was just the perfect opportunity for me, a vehicle for me to be able to do what I love. It's a passion of mine getting health care to at-risk populations."

One student she saw couldn't remember the last time he'd been to the dentist.

"It's been a while," he added, asking that his name be withheld.

Clark principal Jill Pendleton said Las Vegas City Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian and Clark County School District Trustee Chris Garvey were supporters of this project and instrumental to getting it in place at her school.

Future Smiles also has sites at Cunningham and Hollingsworth elementary schools. The program is funded by the United Way of Southern Nevada, the Clark County Public Education Foundation, MGM Resorts Foundation and other private donors.

For more information or to make an appointment at the clinic, call 889-3763.

Contact View education reporter Jeff Mosier at jmosier@viewnews.com or 224-5524.