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Tuesday, February 15, 2011

“Brushing With Dr. Lynda” a School Home Run

Fullford Elementary

On Wednesday, January 5, forty Miami-Dade College Dental Hygiene  students and Clinical Supervisor Susan Hudson, along with Dr. Lynda and other volunteers, spent the morning at North Miami’s Fulford Elementary instructing first graders in the importance of good dental hygiene.

Under the guidance of Dr. Hudson, the dental hygiene students examined the children’s teeth and noted which ones might require early dental intervention.


Each student was shown proper tooth brushing techniques using “toothy” hand puppets.



After practicing with puppets, the dental hygiene students supervised as each child brushed their own teeth in front of a mirror using a small pre-pasted brush.

As a follow up to these new skills, teachers will be provided with DVDs and interactive worksheets to reinforce the importance of daily brushing for the remainder of the school year.

David Lawrence Jr. K-8 Center
The following week, on January 12, first graders at David Lawrence Jr. K-8 Center spent the morning “Brushing with Dr. Lynda” and friends. Over 150 first graders learned proper brushing techniques.

Dr. Susan Kass, director of the Dental Hygiene Program at Miami Dade College, was on hand to oversee her students attending the first graders.

One student brushed so enthusiastically that the tooth fairy was summoned because she lost her first tooth!



Working within the slim window of cafeteria time between the end of breakfast and the beginning of lunch, the Miami Dade College students  slipped into their duties as clinicians, recorders and educators and fell into a rhythm that allowed them to move the children through quickly and still give each child individual attention.


North Miami Elementary

The last stop for Dr. Lynda and friends was North Miami Elementary. Once again the Miami-Dade College dental hygiene students quickly and professionally examined the entire first grade.



The students then learned the correct way to brush and had a chance to practice.


Many dedicated groups have partnered to make this community outreach and educational program “Brushing With Dr. Lynda” meaningful and possible.  Dr. Susan Kass, from Miami Dade College, the dental hygiene students, donations from the dental supply companies of Benco,  Patterson and Glaxco Smith Kline and other private donations.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Nancy Grace Gets It!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Big Smiles at Tooth Brush Project Kick Off


Third graders at North Miami’s Fulford Elementary School brushed up on the importance of making it a habit to take care of their teeth and gums with the help of an enthusiastic group of second year dental hygiene students from Miami Dade College’s School of Allied Health Technologies.

Dr.Susan Kass, Director of the Dental Hygiene Program at Miami Dade College is very committed to service learning. "Giving back to the community is a big component of the dental hygiene program and the students enthusiastically give of their own time to participate in community activities that enable them to promote oral health and disease prevention."  Under the direction of Dr. Susan Hudson, the program’s clinical supervisor, 13 future dental hygienists demonstrated proper tooth brushing techniques to small groups of children at the Title One school.

Armed with whimsical, and very toothy, plush hand puppet animals and oversized toothbrushes, the dental hygiene students let the kids practice on the puppets before introducing them to the disposable waterless toothbrushes that will be added to their lunch trays beginning Monday, Oct.25, 2010

Dr. Willard "Tee" Holloway and Miami Dade
College dental hygiene students at Fulford Elementary

Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ current School Board Chair and Fulford Elementary alumni Wilbert “Tee” Holloway joined one group for instruction and then posed for photos with a toothy purple puppet and a giant toothbrush.

Promoting lunchtime tooth brushing in schools is the project of Dr. Lynda Colaizzi, a South Miami dentist whose commitment to volunteer dental clinics over the years has shown her what can happen to children in households where a toothbrush is a luxury item. Working with Fulford guidance counselor Jessie Pernell, Colaizzi arranged to make the toothbrushes available to Fulford third graders, whose curriculum this year includes a unit on health and nutrition.

“I see children who have never brushed come to our free dental clinics with ulcers and mouths full of cavities,” she explained to Dr. Jean Teal, principal at Fulford. “If we can make daily brushing a habit at a young age, we can prevent costly dental procedures later in life.”

Colaizzi said her ultimate goal is to get the small, recyclable brushes on every lunch tray in the county and this is just the first step. Currently the program is funded only through the end of 2010.

She and a group of volunteer partners are working to get out the word to prospective sponsors in the hope charitable groups and businesses will adopt a classroom, a grade or a school in their community.

If you or a group with which you are affiliated would like more information about supporting the toothbrush project, contact lcolaizzi@aol.com.