February is recognized as Children’s Dental Health Month, and the Tonopah Dental Center (TDC) has taken significant steps to promote oral hygiene among local youth. Earlier this month, TDC organized an educational and screening event at Tonopah Elementary School, collaborating with the Nye County School District to raise awareness about the importance of maintaining healthy teeth, tongues, and mouths.
Valeria Romero, clinic manager at TDC, expressed enthusiasm about the initiative, noting that this marks the first event of its kind organized by TDC under the Nevada Dental Foundation. “Our intention is for this to become an annual initiative,” she stated, highlighting the commitment to improving dental health in the region.
The event was spearheaded by Dr. Mark Rosenberg and Professor Julie Stage-Rosenberg, both of whom are dedicated volunteers at TDC. Dr. Rosenberg has devoted much of his career to serving children, while Professor Stage-Rosenberg, a registered dental hygienist, has previously developed similar programs in collaboration with various educational institutions. Their shared passion for aiding rural communities led them to propose this initiative to TDC, which aligns with the organization’s mission to provide exceptional dental care to underserved populations in Nevada.
Successful Screening and Education Efforts
During the two-day event, TDC’s team, including assistant Lisa Gillard, engaged with students at Tonopah Elementary, providing both oral health education and on-site dental screenings. Approximately 45 children, equating to about 35% of the school’s total enrollment, received dental screenings. Most of these children also benefited from a fluoride varnish treatment at no cost, thanks to the support of the Nevada State Oral Health Program.
Romero reported that the screenings revealed significant preventive and restorative dental needs among the children. Families were provided with tailored dental care recommendations and received hygiene supplies donated by Liberty Insurance Co. TDC is actively coordinating follow-up care in partnership with school staff to ensure these children receive necessary treatment.
Romero emphasized the critical nature of dental health for children, stating, “It directly affects their overall health, learning, and quality of life. Early prevention helps reduce cavities, pain, infections, and missed school days, while education empowers children to take responsibility for their health as they grow.”
Commitment to Accessible Dental Care
Since opening in November 2023, TDC has remained committed to providing accessible dental care to the Tonopah community. Romero acknowledged some challenges, particularly regarding provider availability in this designated “frontier” community, but reassured the public that the center remains fully operational despite the recent closure of the Frontier Medical Group, which previously shared their facility.
“To address the community’s needs, we recently hired a dentist who will provide care at our office twice a month for the next few months,” Romero noted. “However, we continue to rely largely on volunteer providers. Our ongoing goal is to hire a full-time dentist—hopefully this year—to expand and stabilize our services.”
For more information about the Tonopah Dental Center and its initiatives, please visit their website at TonopahDentalCenter.com.
