The University at Buffalo’s School of Dental Medicine’s mobile van is outside Love Elementary School in Jamestown, now back in business after the COVID-19 pandemic put the brakes on many of its services.

What You Need To Know

  • UB dental van in Jamestown through August, back in October
  • Dental group resuming regular services amid pandemic
  • Van services children, adults, veterans and senior citizens

"I have to get my teeth checked," said Valhala Walter, 16, of Jamestown.

Walter was one of many patients inside UB's dental van Tuesday as part of the S-Miles To Go program, now serving children, adults, veterans, and senior citizens. 

The van has serviced Chautauqua County for 25 years, and is now equipped for social distancing, complete with an intake tent, and outdoor waiting area. 

"Well, my teeth are important and I know I need to take care of them. And I'm pretty good at it. I haven't had like a cavity or anything, but I'm not very good at flossing," said Walter.

"We have thousands of children that use us as their dental home. Plus we have a lot of veterans we've served over the years," said Paula Fischer, UB School of Dental Medicine director of school based health services.

Leaders say they are now accepting calls from people of all income levels who are insured, uninsured, and underinsured. 

Because of COVID-19, the dental group was only performing emergency services to its patients and others whose regular dentist office was closed.

Thanks to funding from grants, as well as from the Delta Dental and Mother Cabrini foundations, the van continues to serve local students it didn't get a chance to after schools were closed.

"The need is here. We have so many children when we're at the schools that have a high decay rate. I mean it's not uncommon to see 10 cavities in a child. So we have all these kids that needed work and we couldn't do anything," said Fischer.

"We like to see kids young and early. It's not just to brush their teeth," said Dr. Sarah Barry, dentist.

Dr. Barry is one of three providers in the van, which includes a pediatric dentist.

Not only is she on the frontline of care, but she also provides preventative education to her patients as well.

"And if we can catch the cavities when they're smaller, we can talk about dental care, dental home hygiene, and help people taking care of themselves. That can limit their future problems with their teeth," said Dr. Barry.

The dental van is expected to stay in front of Love through August 28 before it heads to Buffalo in September, and returns to the area in October.

A link to more information can be found here, or you can call Director Paula Fischer at 716-829-6240 or Intake Coordinator Sarah Bemis at 716-397-2640.