Posted on: Sunday, February 27, 2005
Dentists add a checkup to meals for homebound
By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser East Honolulu Writer
HAWAI'I KAI — Dentists are making house calls these days.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser The Dental Samaritans went into homes in Hawai'i Kai, upper and lower Kalihi, Makiki, McCully, Punahou, Waikiki, Kaimuki, Palolo, Kina'u Street, 'Aiea, Kane'ohe, Kailua and 'Ewa.
"I kind of like these dental house calls," said Savage, as he began his examination of 89-year-old Arthur Harris, who lives in Kuli'ou'ou. "You get to see the blue sky and meet all kinds of people."
The Dental Samaritans, who belong to the Hawai'i Dental Association, have pinpointed a growing need for preventive care in Hawai'i's homebound, who are mostly elderly. By going out with the Meals on Wheels delivery volunteers, a dozen dentists saw four to six senior citizens who might have difficulty getting to a dental office.
Harris opened wide for Savage's exam. Savage gave him a clean bill of oral health.
"I'm due to see the dentist next month," Harris said. "I can't see very well, so I have someone to take me around."
The dentists didn't perform any other services, but dropped off toothbrushes, toothpaste and denture cleansers and took a look-see into mouths for signs of oral cancer, said Dr. Russell Masunaga, director of the dental group. In the past, the group has targeted children, but recently it came to their attention that senior citizens might need the extra attention, Masunaga said.
Dental Samaritans hope to expand the program and make home visits again in September, he said.
"These homebound people are very suspicious of outsiders and who they allow into their homes," Masunaga said. "By partnering with Meals on Wheels, then we have an established point of contact."
Hawai'i Meals on Wheels has been delivering hot meals to homebound residents on O'ahu for 26 years. The not-for-profit organization delivers hot meals on 31 routes from Hawai'i Kai to Kapolei.
"This is a great way to get to those underserved by dentists," Savage said. "I think it's important to give back into the community. A lot of these people fall through the cracks. It helps to give them even a cursory exam and maybe that will give them a spark to go to the dentist."
Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com or 395-8831.
Dr. Mason Savage tried it Thursday. It was a first for the Kahala dentist and a first for the Dental Samaritans, a dozen dentists who tagged along with the delivery of hot meals by a Hawai'i Meals on Wheels volunteers around O'ahu.
Dentist Mason Savage gives a free checkup to Henry Cremer inside Cremer's home in Hawai'i Kai. Savage paired with Meals on Wheels volunteers to make house calls in a program the group Dental Samaritans hopes to follow-up with more visits in September.
