Caring for Our Community

Breakfast with the Tooth Fairy

The LSU School of Dentistry Student Chapter of the American Dental Hygienists' Association hosted its annual Breakfast with the Tooth Fairy on Saturday, February 20th. Seventy guests (both children and adults) attended the event, held in the dental school cafeteria. For a $10 donation children received a healthy breakfast, a picture with the Tooth Fairy, activities, and a goody bag. A $5 adult donation included coffee and breakfast. Thirty-five dental hygiene students participated in the activities, which included instruction on proper brushing and flossing, nutrition education, face painting, and story time.

Proceeds benefit dental hygiene student community projects and help defray the cost for students to attend the annual session of the American Dental Hygienists' Association. Faculty members Tricia Barker and Geri Waguespack coordinated the event, which was sponsored by Campus Federal Credit Union and Panera Bread.

Second-year dental hygiene student Mymy Tu

Dental hygiene faculty and students at Breakfast with the Tooth Fairy

Give Kids A Smile Day

Under the direction of Kimberly Patterson, DDS, assistant professor of pediatric dentistry, LSUSD celebrated Give Kids A Smile Day (GKAS) on February 26. Over 100 children from Arthur Ashe Charter School in New Orleans traveled to LSUSD to participate in the annual event. A joint program of the LSUSD Department of Pediatric Dentistry and the New Orleans Dental Association, this year's GKAS Day included dental screenings, oral health and nutrition education, and injury prevention tips. A special feature was a magic show performed by LSUSD's David Vela, BS, CDT, associate professor of laboratory technology.

David Vela performs magic with the assistance of a student from Arthur Ashe Charter School

Urban League Schools Expo

Second-year dental student Seth Dejean led the effort with Dr. Janice Townsend, head of the LSUSD Department of Pediatric Dentistry, and Dr. Suzanne Fournier, pediatric dentistry advanced education program director, to participate in the Urban League Schools Expo. New Orleans' biggest education expo for families, the event, held at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on February 13, was sponsored by the Urban League of Greater New Orleans. The primary focus of the expo is to offer a venue where parents can meet in one place with representatives from all types of schools: public, private, voucher, Catholic, and charter. The event also introduces families to the many health and educational services offered in the Greater New Orleans area. This year, 114 schools and 89 community groups participated.

Seth said, "It was one of the most successful outreach events attended by the department. In addition to providing instruction on oral hygiene and good nutrition, 129 children and 150 parents received oral health screenings. Over 100 parents requested a follow-up to obtain further dental care for their children."

Seth Dejean and Dr. Suzanne Fournier with friends at the Urban League Schools Expo