Post date: Jan 8, 2015 4:32:13 PM

Teaching poor students has unique challenges

Excerpt:

The district works with Ontario dentists Steven Dunker and Ben Peterson, who periodically volunteer their services to the district to assist with those who can’t afford dental care.

The partnership began more than 10 years ago with a dental van that visited Ontario’s migrant Head Start program in the summer, Peterson said.

“Rhett Tipton and I — he’s my partner here — we volunteered to see some kids and treat them,” he said. “After the first year, we suggested bringing the kids to our office. We wanted to treat the kids more comprehensively.”

Dunker, who has been on board with the same dental van since 1999, screens children and refers them to Peterson and Tipton. He also does dental work as a service to the community.

“I have told [Ontario] through the year, if they do have a child that is in need of work to bring them in and we’ll do what we can to stop the pain,” he said. “We help the kids out as much as we can. I don’t like to see them in pain.”