CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM First-graders Keona Lindsey, 6, left; Destiny Jenks, 5; Mycah Vaivai, 6; Lila Marcellino-Filo, 6; and Richard Vierra, 6, received a bag of dental goodies yesterday at Kamaile Elementary School in Waianae. Several dentists and dental assistants volunteered their services for Give Kids a Smile Day.

Dentists restore smiles
to Leeward kids

A volunteer program visits a pair
of schools to offer free screenings

Four hundred Leeward Oahu children left school yesterday with bags of gifts to keep their teeth clean and smiles bright.

The Hawaii Dental Association's Dental Samaritans visited Kamaile Elementary School and Ka Waihona Na'auao Public Charter School to give the kids free dental screenings.

"It was really successful," said Dr. Russell Masunaga, who co-founded the Dental Samaritans in 2001 with Dr. George Wessberg.

Dentists, hygienists and staff members volunteer their time annually to participate in the national Give Kids a Smile Day program.

They teamed up this year with City Councilman Todd Apo, Crest, Global Medical & Dental and the Henry Schein Corp.

Masunaga said Apo facilitated the relationship between the Samaritans and the schools to create a smooth operation. His district, which includes Ewa Beach, Nanakuli, Waianae, Makaha and Makua, has the highest need for dental care for elementary school children, Masunaga said.

But, he noted, "We were quite impressed with how people are taking responsibility for their own health out there. We saw a lot of children who have had a lot of dental work. But I think we made a positive intervention on at least 10 percent of children who had caries (tooth decay)."

Six dentists, two hygienists and about 10 staff volunteers were at the two sites through the morning.

Dentists at Kamaile were Drs. Craig Yamamoto, Glenn Kaneda, Brent Ching and Lisa Valderueda. At the charter school were Drs. Masunaga and Mark Greer and hygienists Maryjane Tuuvera and Kendra Wong.

Kim Koga coordinated the event, which included individual screenings and oral hygiene instruction.

The children received free Crest Healthy Smiles 2010 toothbrushes, toothpaste, the "Parent's Guide to Caring for Children's Teeth" and an electric Crest spin brush.

Masunaga said the Dental Samaritans have tried different types of arrangements for participation in the Smile Day, such as busing students to one place and dentists going to classrooms.

Yesterday's event was the first with children taken in waves to the dentists, he said, adding that it was a success for the doctors, principals and teachers because classes were not interrupted.

"The fact that they (Dental Samaritans) would bring their volunteer dentists into our schools is extraordinary," Apo said.