Manchester Dentists Donate Time To Students' Oral Health

MANCHESTER, NH — Two local dentists donated their time during the school day Friday to treat a dozen students at Gossler Park Elementary School as part of the Manchester Health Department's mobile clinic, officials said Wednesday.

The clinic, which is staffed with a public health dental hygienist and dental assistant, has been around since 1970, according to officials. Every year, the dental van makes the rounds to all of Manchester’s twenty public schools, treating an average of 600 students annually at no cost to the student or family.

Dr. Ernani Domingo and Dr. Judley Alphonse, who offered to lend a hand at the school Friday, are part of a group of a half-dozen dentists who have agreed to support the program by periodically working on the dental van.

Students are provided with an oral health screening, x-rays, dental cleaning, fluoride treatment, sealants, temporary fillings, and education on how to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Some students, though, need a higher level of care that only a dentist or dental specialist can provide, officials said.

"Historically, certain local dental providers would accept those students needing more involved
care into their office practices, but that has changed since the pandemic," Deputy
Public Health Director Elaine Michaud said. "Some of those dental practices have closed, providers
retired, or circumstances changed preventing them from taking on those students ... With many of our program’s students in need of extractions, permanent fillings, or other more comprehensive treatment, we reached out broadly to the Manchester dental community, and we are so grateful to those who raised their hand to help."

State officials are urging dental providers interested in volunteering their time on the dental van or occasionally accepting a student into their practice to contact their dental team at 603-624-
6466 or at cthompson2@manchesternh.gov.