Programs

Personal Stories

Elementary Schools Program

The PRASAD CDHP Elementary Schools Program does much more than improve children’s dental health; it also opens hearts, heals emotional hurts, and brings about positive changes in self-esteem. We are grateful for our dedicated staff and volunteers, who create an environment on the mobile dental clinic and in the schools that feels safe, welcoming and caring. The following stories, shared by the mobile dental clinic staff, demonstrate how the program touches children’s lives. To protect privacy, children’s names are not used.

Restoring self-esteem

Earlier this year, one of our young patients fell down and broke his two front teeth. His friends began to call him “vampire,” which hurt his feelings and made him feel ashamed of his smile. His teacher said that he stopped smiling altogether and walked with his face down so he wouldn’t be noticed.

The boy came to the PRASAD CDHP mobile dental clinic, where he received dental treatment to repair the damage from the fall. After his visit to the clinic, he ran into the school, excitedly smiling and showing his teeth to everyone!

Dissolving Fear

A seven-year-old patient came to the dental clinic and was very frightened because of a previous traumatic experience with dental care. The CDHP dentist reassured the boy by explaining with each step, what he was doing. When the boy wouldn’t allow the dentist to use the examination mirror, the dentist gave the mirror to the boy and then held up a bigger mirror where the child could see his face and feel comfortable. By the time his treatment was finished, the child was happy and no longer afraid, promising he would come back for his next visit.

Inspiring Trust

A teacher contacted PRASAD because she observed that Jenny, a five-year-old Asian girl, needed immediate dental care. The school thought that Jenny wasn’t eating the school lunch because she didn’t like American food, but the reality was that all her teeth had cavities, and she was in constant pain.

In her first visit to the mobile dental clinic, because her oral condition was so severe, the dentist had to extract teeth - but Jenny was the best patient. As young as she was, she trusted the dental staff; she knew they were helping her to heal so she could eat without pain.

Sharing Gratitude

Our dental hygienist shared about the heartwarming result of a child's dental check-up. A short time after the dental visit was completed, the child came back with the school nurse to give a big hug to the dental hygienist for the treatment that he received. She was so moved to experience the child’s love and gratitude.

Offering Kindness

A child was treated by the dental hygienist and, his treatment completed, walked back to the waiting room. As the next child got into the dental chair to be treated, he became scared and upset. Seeing the second child’s distress, the first
child went to the doorway and reassured him, saying that he didn’t need to be scared, that being at the dentist was a
lot of fun.

PRASAD CDHP
465 Brickman Road
Hurleyville, NY 12747
Phone: 845.434.0376 | Fax: 845.434.0377