BRIGHTENING SMILES : FOUNDATION FILLS GAP IN DENTAL CARE.

Byline: Sherry Joe Crosby Daily News Staff Writer

Marbel Huanosta, a machine operator at a Valencia auto parts factory, wasn't making much money and didn't have dental insurance - a real problem for his 8-1/2-year-old son Christopher, plagued with a rotting tooth.

That's when the Santa Clarita-based Foundation for Children's Dental Health stepped in. Recommended by Christopher's school nurse, the nonprofit organization arranged for volunteer dentists to fill the cavity, perform X-rays and clean the youngster's teeth.

That was a year ago. Christopher barely remembers the procedure, but his parents do. Without the program, they said they didn't know what they would have done.

``It's very good. It's very important for the children,'' Christopher's mother, Herlinda Huanosta said in Spanish. ``Without the program it's very bad, because some families don't have money, don't have insurance.''

Formed in 1993 by concerned local residents, the program provides free dental care and oral hygiene education to low-income families and their children in kindergarten through eighth grades.

``Even though Santa Clarita has a pretty middle-class community, there are kids here who are at or close to the poverty level, and these kids don't have dental care,'' said Joyce Woodford, the program's executive director.

The foundation is among 15 agencies being profiled this year in the Daily News' seventh annual Season of Sharing project. Readers can use the attached coupon to donate money to the agency or sign up to volunteer. The Daily News receives none of the money.

The foundation reaches more than 2,600 children each year through its dental hygiene program and mobile clinic, which holds screenings and provides examinations, X-rays, cleanings, fillings, extractions, crowns, sealants and education.

In the past, the program has used University of Southern California dental students and their instructors in four mobile vans. In February, the program will contract with local dentists who will perform the work in their individual offices.

Under the contract, the dentists will treat each child for a $225 fee paid by the foundation. Woodford said the work, which often involves multiple fillings, X-rays and cleaning, is worth $400 to $800.

Dentists said they join the program because they want to make positive contributions to their community.

``I like working with the kids,'' said Dr. Martin Orro, who began working with disadvantaged children 18 years ago as a UCLA dental student. ``It's a nice way of working with the community here.''

Added his wife and office administrator, Linda Orro: ``We all make our living in the community, and at some point you have to give back to your community.''

The most frequent problems the dentists treat include cavities, worn enamel and severe decay known as baby bottle tooth decay. That is caused when an infant is put to bed with a bottle of milk or juice, which erodes the front teeth.

``The front teeth rot off and become black little stumps,'' said Martin Orro who usually doesn't see the children until they're toddlers.

Many of the children's dental problems go unnoticed until the program holds screenings.

``They sit in the classroom and have toothaches,'' Woodford said. ``They don't complain. They suffer in silence.''

During the screenings, health professionals visit local schools, looking for the neediest students with the worst dental problems. Those who need immediate attention can seek help at any time during the year through the organization's emergency referral network, which depends on eight volunteer dentists who remain on call.

The network handles about 20 to 30 emergency cases each year, Woodford said.

Those who don't need emergency treatment are referred to the organization's children's dental services program, which serves 80 to 120 children each year.

Mary Caravalho, the program's president and founder, said without the foundation many local children would go without proper dental care.

Before the foundation, ``there was no dental care in the Valley for low-income children,'' Caravalho said. ``There was no money. We came up with this concept for a foundation that helps children.''

The organization started with a $22,000 federal grant obtained with the assistance of Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich. The $50,000-a-year organization now is supported through local and state funds as well as donations from individuals, service clubs and corporations.

Woodford said the organization wants to help more children but doesn't have the resources to do so.

``There's definitely more need than we can meet,'' she said, estimating that as much as 12 percent of Santa Clarita Valley's 167,000 population is at or below the poverty line.

One of the biggest needs facing the organization is lack of space. It now works out of the Santa Clarita Valley Service Center, a referral network for food, clothing, shelter and employment for low-income residents.

Woodford said the organization also needs donations of toothpaste, toothbrushes and floss to distribute to children at local schools. ``We need large quantities,'' she said. ``Dental companies no longer give away those items.''

The foundation also could use a fax machine, personal computer, photocopier and more bilingual volunteers who can speak Spanish and English. Woodford said one volunteer now oversees the dental hygiene program, which annually serves 2,500 children in kindergarten through second grade.

Marbel Huanosta is grateful for whatever the program can do for families like his.

``It's a good idea to have the program,'' he said. ``People don't have enough money to go to the dentist.''

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Photo

PHOTO Christopher Huanosta, 8-1/2, practices good dental hygiene after getting help last year.

Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News