Elgin’s Health Program helps 6th grader find confidence.
A 12-year-old boy goes to his nurse with dental pain two weeks before the end of the school year in Leslie County, Kentucky. The nurse contacts Dr. Andrea Little as she realizes the severity of the decay.
Dr. Little contacts Elgin Foundation to explain the situation, noting that the boy is going to need multiple dental visits. Since the child does not qualify for Medicaid, the Elgin Foundation agrees to provide financial assistance for the treatments.
Elgin works with Dr. Little and the child’s mother to get appointments set up throughout the summer. When he begins his visits to the dental office for his appointments, Dr. Little’s staff mentions that he is extremely shy and does not talk to them. After several visits, his treatment plan is finished. During his last visit, Dr. Little gives the child a mirror and shows him the transformation of his mouth. He is so excited when he sees his mouth that he jumps up out of his chair and gives her a huge hug.
Before the treatment, he was a very shy kid who tended to stay out of the spotlight and under the radar. Because he was so quiet, nobody noticed the state of his mouth.
According to school officials, he is now the computer guru at the school and enjoys fixing all of the teachers’ computers. He has also competed in Governor’s Cup and made it to Regionals. Socially, he is very active now. According to school officials, he was recently seen dancing and socializing with everyone at a school dance.
This shows the power of a healthy smile for a child. This is why Elgin is so passionate about children and helping remove any roadblocks for them as they grow. This is one of many Elgin success stories.