KIDS' CLINIC DENTISTS OFFER FREE CARE.

Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer

CANYON COUNTRY - The children sat calmly, their mouths wide open, their expressions frozen as men and women in masks passed scalers and explorers and mirrors over their small faces.

In just a few hours, dozens of cavities would be filled, molars would be capped, gums would get a little more rejuvenated, and that little string called floss was introduced as a mouth's best friend.

For about 120 children, Friday marked the beginning of their oral health needs as the Foundation for Children's Dental Health hosted a special clinic for local, pre-screened children to receive free dental services.

Large trailers provided by the USC Mobile Dental Clinic sat in a circle inside Bethlehem Lutheran Church's parking lot, each one containing several chairs, all filled with young children. Inside the church's sanctuary, pews were removed and dozens of similar dental chairs had been set up for services that would continue today.

``We screened 400 children last month and basically, did an oral health assessment, and we picked out the kids with the most urgent needs,'' said Dr. Marjorie Domingo, the mobile clinic director.

In 2000, a first-ever surgeon general's report on oral health called dental and oral diseases in the United States a ``silent epidemic.''

The report found that while 44 million Americans lacked medical insurance, 108 million had no dental insurance, and uninsured children are 2.5 times less likely to receive dental care. The report also concludes that poor oral health is directly linked to diabetes, heart and lung disease and overall self-image.

The USC Mobile Dental Clinic sets up 14 such events a year, and the requests keep coming, Domingo said. In addition to providing care, volunteers educate on dental hygiene, hoping to make children and parents aware that physical well-being is connected to the mouth.

``The fact that we have all those (clinics annually) shows there is still a great need,'' she said.

For the parents who waited for the children, the clinic couldn't have come at a better time.

``It's such a great help,'' said Newhall resident Eva Vargas, whose children, ages 16, 14 and 9, attended the clinic. ``For many of us, it's difficult to go to a dentist.''

Estella Valles and Maria Ramos of Castaic agreed.

``It's good they have it here, because usually, these clinics are far away and we can't get there,'' Ramos said. ``Something people don't realize is just because Santa Clarita is considered high-class doesn't mean there are no people here who are low-income.''

Valles said she used to have dental insurance, but had to quit her job to take care of her five children. Her husband struggles with jobs, she said.

``We're so lucky we can have this clinic,'' she said. ``I really needed this for my kids.''

The work comes with rewards for the volunteers, many of them fourth-year USC dental students, such as 25-year-old Brandon Ho.

``It opens your eyes to the dental care needed out there,'' Ho said. ``You not only get to work in the community, but you meet people from all walks of life who value the communication.''

Dentistry runs in Ho's family. His father is a dentist in La Canada Flintridge. His mother is a dental hygienist. Ho started the Christian Medical Dental Association at USC in his freshman year. The team travels to Mexico, where he also volunteers.

``You wish you could be in a place longer than a few days,'' Ho said. ``There are kids out there who are so cute, but then you see that they are suffering with great dental needs.''

Domingo, the clinic's director, said she remembers coming to a similar clinic when she was a child.

``I understand the little kids' life of not having insurance,'' she said. ``My only hope is maybe one among these kids becomes a dentist.''

In addition to the clinic continuing today, a special presentation of $20,000 to the Foundation for Children's Dental Health will be made by the Vons Foundation, the nonprofit wing of the Vons neighborhood grocery stores.

The Foundation for Children's Dental Health was started locally in 1994 by people who saw children suffering from lack of dental care.

Susan Abram, [phone]

susan.abram(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Dr. Marjorie Domingo looks over X-rays with patients Kevin Andrade, 4, and Thomas Guerrero outside the dental trailer in Canyon Country.

(2) Dental care experts work on a child at the free mobile USC dental clinic near Bethlehem Lutheran Church on Friday.

John McCoy/Staff Photographer