MiQuel McRae, as a registered dental hygienist from Pima, was in a continuing education class in 2016 when she suddenly thought to herself, “How can I help my community?” She learned that Greenlee County ranked lowest in the state for children who had received dental care in the past year. Having worked in private practice in the region, MiQuel didn’t know that outside the walls of her dental office was a population in dire need of professional dental services. She was interested in public health, but because her com- munity lacked a public den- tal health clinic, she didn’t know how she could make a difference. MiQuel’s direction came from a new program offered by the American Dental Association called the Community Dental Health Coordinator. As part of the completion of this year-long course, MiQuel put her ideas into a class project. She wrote her first start-up grant to provide dental education and screenings to underserved children in Greenlee and Graham counties. Today, her class proj- ect has blossomed into a nonprofit organization called Tooth BUDDS (Bringing Understanding of Dental Disease to Schools), focused on ensuring children in southern rural Arizona receive free professional preventive den- tal care services in their schools. Staffed by affili- ated practice den- tal hygienists, Tooth BUDDS provides dental screenings, cleanings, sealants, fluoride varnish, silver diamine fluo- ride applications and silver, modified, atraumatic, restor- ative, or SMART, therapy restorations, to students in both Graham and Greenlee counties. Along with preventive measures, the organization’s primary goal is to connect patients with providers. Dr. Stacy Williams of Safford is the affiliated den- tist on the team and provides dental care beyond the scope of the hygienists’ practice. Tooth BUDDS uses tele- dentistry to communicate urgent needs students may have so treatment can be expedited. Roughly 65% of the children seen through the program have active decay, and at least 20 to 30 stu- dents per school have never been to a dentist. With early childhood cavities being the most rampant yet prevent- able childhood disease, Tooth BUDDS is doing its part to ensure no child turns to drugs because of a toothache. The program started as a one-person operation and has grown to four licensed dental hygienists and an assis- tant. Making visits to local schools such as Discovery Plus Academy in Pima, Tooth BUDDS team members make a 20-minute oral health pre- sentation to classrooms to draw the connection between a healthy mouth and a healthy body. A packet of information and goodies, along with a per- mission slip, goes home with students. On a return trip, Karen Turnidge and Amy Fulps, both registered dental hygien- ists-affiliated practice, along with Office Manager Destini Munoz, arrive at the school early to set up a portable den- tal office, dental chairs, steril- ized dental tools, inventory, material and office supplies. Partnering with Delta Dental Foundation of Arizona, United Way of Graham and Greenlee Counties, Arizona Community Foundation and Freeport McMoRan, the Tooth BUDDS staff takes each student participant through a professional dental hygiene appointment similar to that in a private practice. Each child receives one-on-one brushing instructions followed with a dental screening, dental cleaning and fluoride varnish. Teeth are evaluated to deter- mine if they qualify for addi- tional services such as seal- ants, silver diamine fluoride or SMART restoration. The World Health Organization has endorsed the SMART technique as a means of restoring and pre- venting cavities in populations with limited access to tradi- tional dental care. SMART restoration is a quick, painless alternative to the traditional “drill and fill” for parents of young, apprehensive chil- dren with cavities who wish to avoid or delay drills, shots, sedation or general anesthe- sia for their treatment. This technique halts further decay and seals the tooth using sil- ver diamine fluoride and glass ionomer sealant in a single appointment. This technique is ideal for baby teeth that may soon fall out. This restoration is con- sidered temporary and only ensures the decay does not get worse. Students who receive SMART restorations are encouraged to follow up with their dentist for a complete exam with X-rays. Students are sent home with a referral detailing the services provided during the appointment, any decay or concerns found, and a list of local dentists for further KEEP SMILING Tooth BUDDS program brings dental care to area schools Graham County MiQuel McRae 4 NOVEMBER 2019
Transcript
MiQuel McRae, as a registered dental hygienist from Pima, was in a continuing education class in 2016 when she suddenly thought to herself, “How can I help my community?”
She learned that Greenlee County ranked lowest in the state for children who had received dental care in the past year.
Having worked in private practice in the region, MiQuel didn’t know that outside the walls of her dental office was a population in dire need of professional dental services. She was interested in public health, but because her com-munity lacked a public den-tal health clinic, she didn’t know how she could make a difference.
MiQuel’s direction came from a new program offered by the American Dental Association called the Community Dental Health Coordinator. As part of the completion of this year-long course, MiQuel put her ideas into a class project. She wrote her first start-up grant to provide dental education and screenings to underserved children in Greenlee and Graham counties.
Today, her class proj-ect has blossomed into a
nonprofit organization called Tooth BUDDS (Bringing Understanding of Dental Disease to Schools), focused
on ensuring children in southern rural
Arizona receive free professional preventive den-tal care services in their schools.
Staffed by affili-ated practice den-
tal hygienists, Tooth BUDDS provides dental screenings,
cleanings, sealants, fluoride varnish, silver diamine fluo-ride applications and silver, modified, atraumatic, restor-ative, or SMART, therapy restorations, to students in both Graham and Greenlee counties.
Along with preventive measures, the organization’s primary goal is to connect patients with providers.
Dr. Stacy Williams of Safford is the affiliated den-tist on the team and provides dental care beyond the scope of the hygienists’ practice.
Tooth BUDDS uses tele-dentistry to communicate urgent needs students may have so treatment can be expedited. Roughly 65% of the children seen through the program have active decay, and at least 20 to 30 stu-dents per school have never been to a dentist. With early childhood cavities being the
most rampant yet prevent-able childhood disease, Tooth BUDDS is doing its part to ensure no child turns to drugs because of a toothache.
The program started as a one-person operation and has grown to four licensed dental hygienists and an assis-tant. Making visits to local schools such as Discovery Plus Academy in Pima, Tooth BUDDS team members make a 20-minute oral health pre-sentation to classrooms to draw the connection between a healthy mouth and a healthy body. A packet of information and goodies, along with a per-mission slip, goes home with students.
On a return trip, Karen Turnidge and Amy Fulps, both registered dental hygien-ists-affiliated practice, along with Office Manager Destini Munoz, arrive at the school early to set up a portable den-tal office, dental chairs, steril-ized dental tools, inventory, material and office supplies.
Partnering with Delta Dental Foundation of Arizona, United Way of Graham and Greenlee Counties, Arizona Community Foundation and Freeport McMoRan, the Tooth BUDDS staff takes each student participant through a professional dental hygiene appointment similar to that in a private practice. Each child receives one-on-one brushing
instructions followed with a dental screening, dental cleaning and fluoride varnish. Teeth are evaluated to deter-mine if they qualify for addi-tional services such as seal-ants, silver diamine fluoride or SMART restoration.
The World Health Organization has endorsed the SMART technique as a means of restoring and pre-venting cavities in populations with limited access to tradi-tional dental care. SMART restoration is a quick, painless alternative to the traditional “drill and fill” for parents of young, apprehensive chil-dren with cavities who wish to avoid or delay drills, shots, sedation or general anesthe-sia for their treatment. This technique halts further decay and seals the tooth using sil-ver diamine fluoride and glass ionomer sealant in a single appointment. This technique is ideal for baby teeth that may soon fall out.
This restoration is con-sidered temporary and only ensures the decay does not get worse. Students who receive SMART restorations are encouraged to follow up with their dentist for a complete exam with X-rays.
Students are sent home with a referral detailing the services provided during the appointment, any decay or concerns found, and a list of local dentists for further
KEEP SMILINGTooth BUDDS program brings dental care to area schools
Graham County
MiQuel McRae
4 N O V E M B E R 2019
follow-up. “Parents may not have the
time or means to take their children to the dentist,” Karen says. “This makes it so impor-tant that we educate the stu-dents about their oral health and do all we can to stop any visible decay that has started. Silver diamine fluoride is a
game-changer for these young children who may never see a dentist in their youth.”
Amy says the goal is to make a difference in the community.
“We want to prevent tooth decay and protect the teeth when they are young,” she says. “It’s been proven that a
child experiencing a tooth-ache will turn to drugs to alle-viate the pain. Our goal is to ensure no child turns to drugs because of a toothache.”
The program is working. Tooth BUDDS is already making an impact on dental health in Gila Valley.
In 2017, the first year the
program went to Solomon Elementary, 68% of children had tooth decay with 193 individual cavities. In 2018, the decay rate fell to 30% with 76 cavities among students, a 50% reduction in decay through education and the preventive services. nTooth BUDDS is completely grant funded. Donations help accomplish its vision that no child should suffer from dental decay. To make a dona-tion, visit toothbudds.org or contact [email protected]. All dona-tions go directly to providing free dental hygiene services to children in Graham and Greenlee counties.
Karen Turnidge prepares a student for a sealant treatment during a visit to an elementary school. The Tooth BUDDS program focuses on improving dental hygiene for underserved school children.
N O V E M B E R 2019 5
Graham County Utilities Inc reminds you to call your local gas provider if you smell natural gas in or around your home or business.
Natural gas is orderless, so the gas supplier adds a chemical called mercaptan. This chemical has an odor similar to rotten eggs.
A gas leak could be dangerous. If the odor is strong in your home or business, remember to observe these safety tips:
• Do not light matches.• Do not turn lights on or off.• Do not use the telephone.• Notify everyone in the home or building, if possible.• Call the gas company from a nearby home or business. Graham County Utilities
number is 928-485-2451 or 800-577-9266.• Do not re-enter the building until the gas company has informed you it is safe. n
Be Safe Around Natural Gas
8 N O V E M B E R 2019
Tips for a Safe, Happy Holiday SeasonBy Justin LaBerge
The holidays are upon us. For many, that means more celebrations with friends and family, travel, decorations, cooking and shopping.
While we cannot guarantee the hustle and bustle of the season won’t leave you with frayed nerves, we can help you avoid frayed wires.
Here are a few tips to con-sider as you gear up for the holiday season.
Inspect Seasonal ItemsMany of us bring treasured holiday mementos out of storage every year. The holidays are also when we dust off spe-cialized cooking gadgets that allow us to prepare our favorite seasonal treats.
These items are often handed down through generations and might lack modern safety features. Carefully inspect your holiday items to ensure everything is in safe, working order. Look for:
• Brittle wire insulation.• Rodent damage to wires.• Chafed or frayed wires, especially at
stress points.• Worn switches with the potential to
short circuit.• Corroded metal parts.• Broken legs, unstable bases and
other tip-over hazards.
Extension Cords are TemporaryWhen you asked your teacher for an extension on your term paper, it was a one-time thing, right? The same holds true for extension cords. They are designed for temporary use—never as a permanent or long-term solution.
Never Defeat Safety DevicesThere are reasons some devices have fuses, some plugs have three prongs instead of
two and one prong is wider than the other on two-prong outlets.
When those safety features get in the way of your grand holiday décor plans, you might be tempted to tamper with or defeat those features. Don’t do it!
If your plugs will not fit together, that means they are not designed to work together. Rather than tampering with a safety feature, find a safe solution.
Look Up and LiveWhen working outside with a ladder, be mindful of the location of overhead power lines. Always carry your ladder so it is parallel to the ground. Before placing your ladder in an upright position, look around to ensure you are a safe distance from any power lines.
Beware of Power Lines in TreesTree branches can grow around power lines running along the street to your home. If those branches come in contact with power lines, they can become ener-gized, too. If your holiday plans call for stringing lights through trees, this can create a safety hazard. If you notice limbs are too close to electric lines, contact GCEC at 928-485-2451.
Stay Away From Service ConnectionThe overhead wire bringing power from
the utility pole to your house is dangerous. You should treat this line the same way you would treat any other power line on our system.
Maintain a safe distance, even if that means a small gap in the perfect gingerbread house outline of lights.
If you must perform work close to your service entrance, contact your utility and ask if your service temporarily can be disconnected until the work is completed.
Read the Fine PrintIf you take a few minutes to read and understand the specifications and limita-tions of your lights and other electrified holiday decorations, you can save your-self a great deal of work and frustration.
For example, the tag at the end of an extension cord will tell you if it is rated for outdoor use, whether it will remain flexible in cold temperatures and how much energy it can safely handle.
Similarly, holiday lights will tell you how many strings can be safely linked together.
Don’t Forget About Kids and PetsIf you have young children, you probably have spent a great deal of time making sure every square inch of your home is childproof. Every cabinet is locked and every outlet is covered.
Sometimes the joy of celebrating the holidays with our little ones makes us less vigilant about electrical safety. Make sure your holiday décor receives the same level of scrutiny you apply to all of the perma-nent items in your home.
Curious and mischievous pets can present similar challenges. Make sure Fluffy is not nibbling on all those extra wires or using your tree as her personal back scratcher or jungle gym. n
Graham County ElectricBoard of Directors:President Dennis JacobVice Pres. Mark Claridge Secretary Jim BryceChris ClaridgeTommy ClontsStephen HooperGene R. LarsonReuben McBrideGerald Schmidt
Graham County UtilitiesBoard of Directors:President Jeff B. LarsonVice President Steven HooperSecretary Mike CrockettJim BryceTommy ClontsDennis JacobGene R. LarsonLarry H. MorrisGerald Schmidt
CEO and General Manager:Kirk Gray
Graham County Electric and Graham County Utilities are pleased to announce the fifth annual Christmas toy drive and utility assistance program. The 2018 utility assistance program provided much-needed help to 27 cooperative members’ families, with utility assistance credits. Graham County Electric Foundation Inc. donated toys, gift certificates and money to the Pima Angel Tree program as well.
We would like to continue to expand the program to help more members in need this holiday season and through-out the year. GCEF was established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. GCEF administers multiple community-based pro-grams. One of them is our annual toy drive and utility assistance program. GCEF is a registered participant in a national cooperative program called Operation Roundup. As members of GCEC and/or GCU, you may sign up to round up your monthly utility bill to the nearest whole dollar, or more. All contributions are remitted to GCEF, which uses donated funds for the utility assistance program during the holiday season and year-round. All monetary donations should be made payable to the Graham County Electric Foundation Inc. All donations may qualify as tax-deductible contributions.
You may donate toys and/or money to assist members in need with toys for children in the household and/or to help with utility bills during this holiday season at our Pima
office. GCEF also requests your help to identify members in need of assistance. Please contact Diane Junion or Kim Larkey at 928-485-2451 for details on how and when to donate, or if you wish to nomi-nate members who are in need of assistance.
Last year, Santa visited our Pima office to hand out toys and candy to children. This activity was well
received by our membership, and was announced and promoted through our Facebook page. We have invited Santa to come to our Pima office again this year. For more information concern-ing Santa’s schedule and GCEF’s com-
munity-based programs, stay connected with your cooperatives through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
GCEF’s programs are designed to align with the Seventh Cooperative Principle, which states, “While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable develop-ment of communities through policies and programs accepted by the members.” There is much need in the communities we serve, and we greatly appreciate the participation and generosity of our member/owners.
The board of directors and employees of Graham County Electric, Graham County Utilities and Graham County Electric Foundation sincerely wish you and yours a blessed holiday season.
—Kirk Gray
Christmas Toy Drive and Operation RoundupManager’s Message
Graham County Fair Raffle WinnersStephany Apodaca and Don Miller will each receive a bill credit. Congratulations.
32 N O V E M B E R 2019
AZ-145 Postmaster: Send address changes to Currents, 5605 NE Elam Young Pkwy., Hillsboro, OR 97124
