NO PAIN, PLENTY OF GAIN.

Byline: Bill Bishop The Register-Guard

Even a whirling dental drill could not distract 7-year-old Javier Martines-Vasquez from the small electronic game that beeped and honked whenever he scored points while getting his teeth fixed in the Children's Dental Clinic at Churchill High School in Eugene.

Dr. George McCully, a volunteer dentist, and dental assistant Linda Eichner worked around his upraised arms to fill three cavities and put an end to the nagging pain Javier began feeling about a year ago.

Javier is one of thousands of children from working poor families who have received free dental care from the 52-year-old nonprofit clinic and its network of volunteer dentists, dental assistants, hygienists and dental care students. The clinic serves children whose families lack dental insurance or money to pay for the care. It typically serves 274 children annually.

Now, under a three-year $138,000 grant from the Northwest Health Foundation, the clinic will expand to cover 470 students annually.

For school-age children, dental pain can be an obstacle to learning, said Maxine Proskurowski, program manager for Eugene's school-based health centers. And once they see that their pain can be fixed, it's a short step to teach them how to prevent future tooth decay.

"They see, all of a sudden, that side of their mouth doesn't hurt anymore. They can chew meat again. Once they see the pain going away, they beg me to see the dentist," Proskurowski said.

The clinic relies on more than 70 local dentists who volunteer their time, along with scores of other support personnel, said Marilyn Scherer, president of the Assistance League of Eugene. The 160-member league took over the clinic in 1995 after the local Elks Club could no longer sustain the effort that it began in 1951.

League members raise funds for the clinic and other community projects through the Gently Used thrift store on Willamette Street and the annual New Car Expo in January at the county fairgrounds. Lane Community College provides dental hygiene instructors and students for cleaning and sealing, which also helps college students meet their course requirements. The school district provides clinic space and some of Proskurowski's time to coordinate the service.

Combined with cleaning, sealing and education efforts done by LCC students, the clinic program reaches more than 1,200 students annually with prevention and education programs.

The Eugene district's school nurses serve as gatekeepers, referring needy students. League volunteers screen referrals to ensure their families meet the financial need criteria. While the clinic primarily serves Eugene, Springfield and Bethel district students, a few students from Veneta and Junction City also get help.

"It's really a community effort," Proskurowski said. "We're really tapping into the community's resources. It's such a cost-effective program."

The $46,000 provided annually by the new grant will more than double the clinic's budget. The Assistance League raises $17,000 for the project, while LCC contributes $6,000 and the Eugene School District adds $5,000.

In the tiny waiting room of the Children's Dental Clinic lobby on Friday, Javier's father, Flavio Martines, said it would be hard for the family to pay the cost of Javier's dental care. He said he works nights at a chicken processing company, and his wife works days at a restaurant to make ends meet for their two children.

As McCully finished up with Javier on Friday, he estimated the boy's fillings would cost $300 in a typical dentist's office. He also predicted a bright smile in the boy's future.

"His teeth are pretty clean. He's doing a pretty good job," said McCully, who has volunteered at the clinic for 30 years. "And he is a great patient."

CAPTION(S):

With an electronic game for distraction, Javier Martines-Vasquez, 7, calmly faces Dr. George McCully's drill at the Children's Dental Clinic at Churchill High School. The game was the idea of dental assistant Linda Eichner.