With The Confidence of a Healthy Smile, A Child Can Go Anywhere!
she restored their famous smiles. Before Jack and Jennie left, the dentist gave them a magic bean that would take them to Confidence Castle, if they kept their smiles shiny and healthy.
Once upon a time,
a brother and sister named Jack and Jennie were known for making everyone in the kingdom happy with their beautiful smiles. But Jack and Jennie had never learned that beautiful smiles had to be cared for. Over time, their teeth weren’t as white, and they smiled less and less. One day, Jack and Jennie happened upon a helpful dentist in her Tooth Truck.™ Knowing how confident the pair had once been,
Jack and Jennie planted the magic bean, which grew into a huge stalk, climbing high into the sky. The brother and sister began to climb toward Confidence Castle, doing their best to follow the dentist’s advice. Along the way, they were greeted by DecayAway Dragon, from the Healthy Smiles Academy, who reminded them how to brush and gave them the tools and knowledge to keep brushing every day. DecayAway Dragon came by daily, encouraging the siblings to continue their journey until they finally reached Confidence Castle.
The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile® (fondly known as
the Tooth Truck) and the Healthy Smiles Academy (The On-Site Brushing Program From the Tooth Truck) are dedicated to improving the oral health of at risk children, who otherwise have no access to dental care. Along with making smiles brighter, they strive to empower kids with the means and knowledge of how to keep their teeth strong and healthy.
Brothers Josiah and Isaiah Jackson had seventeen cavities between them when they first visited the Tooth Truck.
Josiah and Isaiah are all smiles now as they recall their first visits to the Tooth Truck. The pride these boys have in their smiles is evident in every pearly white grin. Their first trip to the Tooth Truck included a thorough cleaning, as well as floss, toothbrushes, and mouthwash.
Josiah had seven cavities as well as two chipped teeth when he first visited the Tooth Truck. Even though he was experiencing pain, he thought of the Tooth Truck as a safe place. The transformation he experienced was, in his own words, “Like magic.” Isaiah had ten cavities, and always looked forward to being called for his turn on the Tooth Truck. The word he immediately associated with the Tooth Truck was “happy.” Today, both boys are determined to keeping their teeth clean and healthy. For them, the Tooth Truck was about more than making smiles healthy again—it was about restoring confidence, which their mother says is evident once more in their large smiles!
The Tooth Truck has been on the road in the
Springfield metro area for over 13 years, with a mission of completing every child’s treatment plan and providing the tools children need to arrive at Confidence Castle with brilliant, healthy smiles. Any child qualifying for free/ reduced school lunches is eligible for treatment including those that do not have Medicaid coverage, which comprises nearly 40% of our patients and most are considered the “working poor”. The Tooth Truck is unique in eliminating the barrier of not welcoming children without Medicaid, providing all treatment necessary to achieve cavity-free smiles including protective sealants.
This year, the Tooth Truck celebrated these milestones for our program to date:
18,842 children welcomed on the Tooth Truck, with nearly all receiving completed treatment plans.
$10.8 million in dental treatments provided through 45,279 appointments We are only able to reach these milestones because of our community’s outstanding support. With your help, our state of the art mobile dental clinic may continue its mission to bring knowledge and dental care to kids in our community, one child at a time.
Join DecayAway the Dragon and help kids climb to Confidence Castle! With your support, kids can reap the rewards of a bright and happy smile. Ronald McDonald House Charities® maximizes every contribution, tripling the value of each donation to provide dental treatment for children in need. Thank you for bringing free quality dental care to our community’s children, and for keeping the Tooth Truck on the path to success. By filling out the enclosed donation form, you’re helping the Tooth Truck and Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks provide access to dental treatment for the kids in our community who need it the most.
The following trademarks used herein are owned by McDonald’s Corporation: Ronald McDonald Care Mobile name and logo, Ronald McDonald House Charities name and logo. The Tooth Truck name and logo are owned by The Tooth Truck, Inc.
Join Us in Helping Kids Reach Confidence Castle! Help the Tooth Truck and Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks in providing access to dental treatment for the kids in our community who need it the most. Your investment will provide three times its value in dental treatment. I wish to underwrite one or more treatment plan(s) as follows:
____ Average treatment plan for 1 child @ $182
____ Average treatment plan for 3 children @ $546
____ Average treatment plan for 6 children @ $1,092 I would like to donate a different amount. I have enclosed $________________ . PAYMENT METHOD: Enclosed is my check in the amount of $________________ (Please make check payable to RMHC.) Credit Card
Master Card
Visa
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Card Number:___________________________________________________________ Expiration Date: ____________________________ Security Code:_________________ Name:__________________________________________________________________ Address:_________________________________________________________________ City:______________________________________ State:________ Zip:_____________ Telephone:_______________________________________________________________
Please contact me about becoming a monthly donor. You may also make your donation by calling 417.875.3505 or online at www.toothtruck.org The following trademarks used herein are owned by McDonald’s Corporation: Ronald McDonald Care Mobile name and logo, Ronald McDonald House Charities name and logo. The Tooth Truck name and logo are owned by The Tooth Truck, Inc.