ELKS MOBILE DENTAL UNIT IN CAPE THROUGH JULY 10

Since 1962 the Elks Mobile Dental Units have rolled through Missouri towns to give primary dental care services to those who otherwise would never see a dentist. Monday, a unit stopped at the Cape Girardeau Elks Lodge and will remain there until July 10.

Unit dentist, Dr. John Empkey of St. Louis, and Cindy Smith of Farmington, unit dental assistant, work in the fully equipped dental office on wheels.

The office has everything a larger, stationary dental office would have, including two full-size examination chairs. It resembles a large recreational vehicle.

Within the unit a full range of dental services can be performed, such as X-rays, fillings, extractions, cleaning and other treatments. It is also equipped with a wheelchair lift. The unit averages 10 to 12 patients a day.

Empkey, said being the mobile unit dentist is a full-time job for him.

"We travel all year long and mainly see children," he said. "We will see developmentally disabled and crippled children ages 3 to 21." He also helps mentally retarded people with dental problems.

On the walls of the exam area Smith has hung drawings of children. "I put them up to try to make the children feel comfortable," she said. "Some of the adult mentally retarded patients also enjoy the pictures."

In addition to children and mentally retarded patients, the unit will also see people in extreme financial distress. These are patients who may find it impossible to receive dental care anywhere else.

"The unit only sees a few of these patients," said Empkey. "These individuals must be referred by the Elk's Lodge through a screening committee and a letter of referral must come through the committee first." He said the unit limits this category of patients to ages 21 and under.

Mentally retarded people are referred by sheltered workshops, regional centers and special schools. In this area the unit will see patients from VIP workshops in Fruitland, Lutesville and Cape Girardeau. The same patients might return year after year.

The dental unit staff needs to be flexible at times. "This winter when we were at a School for the Blind our water pipes froze up on the unit," said Smith. "We had to do our dental exams without water until they were fixed."

Smith said she gets tired of staying in hotels and is glad to be close to home. "It's always good to have the unit in Cape Girardeau so I can travel home each night."

The Elks Dental Program is administered by the Missouri Department of Health. The Truman Medical Center -- East, Primary Hospital for the UMKC School of Dentistry staff the units. The Missouri Elks Benevolent Trust operates the Dental Care Treatment program.

Each year the Elks provide $500,000 worth of free dental treatment. Funds are raised through Elk member pledges and special donations.