The Massachusetts Dental Society (MDS) Foundation brought its new mobile access to care dental van to the Boys & Girls Club on County Street on February 7th and 8th, 2007, to provide free oral health screenings and services to anyone who signed up. For many of the children, this is their first dental visit. The MDS acquired the van through a $250,000 grant from Procter & Gamble and operates the program across the state with a $105,000 three-year grant from Robert F. Stoico/FIRSTFED Foundation and and funding from Delta Dental. While the van is in Fall River for the two-day February visit, it is stored in a heated garage at the Whaling City Transit Company in Westport to prevent the liquids in the van from freezing. The Hampton Inn has also graciously provided lodging for dental staff that travel from other parts of the state to staff the van. The van will be visiting other communities throughout Massachusetts before returning to Fall River in the summer. For more information, contact the Boys & Girls Club at 508-672-6340..
 

(Top row) The Massachusetts Dental Society Mobil Dental Van is parked outside the Boys & Girls Club on County Street where youngsters have arranged appointments for  examinations. (Middle row) Certified Dental Assistant Lesley Keene chats with Dr. Jack McDonald while Dr. Paul Raymond, who serves as District Liaison for the Dental Society, enters information into the computerized dental record. (Bottom row, left and center) Anna Costa assists Dr. McDonald, who practices in Swansea, while he works on twelve-year-old Nick Quigley. (Bottom row, right) Mary Jan Hanlon-Rogers, who practices in Lexington, accompanies fourteen-year-old Kendra Valente out of the office following a procedure.