Putting on miles for healthy smiles

The Delta Dental Bus is once again set to return to the Hill City School District March 23-27 to provide free oral health services to students.

Delta Dental of South Dakota manages, operates and staffs the 40-foot, fully-equipped, mobile dental clinic that provides preventative, diagnostic and restorative care. 

The Tin City Masonic Lodge has been sponsoring the bus for at least a decade, according to Ron Rossknecht, event coordinator and Master Mason of the Tin City Masonic Lodge. 

“The Masons have been sponsoring the Delta Dental Bus for many years. Students are admitted based upon an application process. In a typical year, around $25,000 worth of free dental work is completed during the week the bus is here,” said superintendent Blake Gardner.

Thanks to individual and business donors, the Masons are able to donate a $3,000 stipend to secure the bus for a five-day visit—a small price to pay to provide dental care to those who may not otherwise have access. 

“Some kids just don’t have any dental care,” said Rossknecht. “Imagine going to school with a bad tooth. This is an opportunity to fix that.” 

The Hill City School District acts as a site partner, hosting the truck, providing a location for it to operate from, and registering students for their visit. 

“The Delta Dental Bus is a great asset to our students at Hill City Elementary,” said elementary principal Samantha Weaver. “The dentists and hygienists are busy the whole week. First, they assess the student, clean their teeth, and then perform any procedures with parent discussion. Our students feel comfortable while they are being treated and this is a big help for families as it is so convenient,” she said.

The truck travels with a dentist, hygienist, two dental assistants and a coordinator. 

Last year, the bus served 34 Hill City students throughout the five-day visit, an increase from 24 the year prior. Of those, 50 percent were treated for tooth decay, three indicated a toothache and one had never seen a dentist before. A total of 144 sealants were placed, reducing the risk of tooth decay by up to 80 percent for several years. 

According to the visit summary, the overall care included 70 diagnostic procedures, such as exams and x-rays, 243 preventative procedures such as cleaning, sealants and fluoride varnish, and 58 restorative procedures, such as cavity fillings, crowns and extractions. Each patient was provided a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and a lesson on how to use them to better care for their teeth at home.

The accumulative dental care totaled $27,609—at no cost to the family and no insurance necessary.

“We appreciate the Delta Dental Bus and all the sponsors for helping make this happen,” said Weaver.

The mobile program travels an average of 42 weeks a year, has visited 91 communities across South Dakota and serves approximately 1,400 kids each year. Thirty-two million in care has been provided since the program’s beginning in 2004. 

“Healthy teeth play an important role in a student’s ability to learn and thrive in school. When students experience dental pain or dental issues, it can make it difficult for them to concentrate, participate in class or even attend school regularly. A healthy smile can enhance learning, impact their confidence and affect a student’s overall well-being,” said Gardner. “By bringing free dental services directly to our campus, we remove barriers that some families face when trying to access care. This helps ensure that students are healthy, comfortable and ready to focus on what matters most—learning, growing and reaching their potential.”