Stamford Kiwanis and Stamford Dental Society Help K.T. Murphy Dental Clinic

The Kiwanis Club of Stamford and the Stamford Dental Society have joined forces to help fill a need at the K. T. Murphy Elementary Dental Clinic. Kiwanis and Stamford Dental Society have replaced the compressor on the dental chair at the school's dental clinic.

According to Christopher Tasik, the Club’s Treasurer, Kiwanis was contacted by Anne Fountain, who is the Director of Health and Social Services in Stamford.

Fountain, according to the a release, explained to Kiwanis that that the compressor was failing and needed to be replaced before school began in September. “We reached out to the Stamford Dental Society and they responded with their support overnight," Tasik said in the release.

Stamford Dental Society President, said, in the release, that school dental clinics are a well-established best practice throughout the country. The K.T. Murphy Clinic was opened in 2002, however Stamford’s school dental program dates back to 1928 according to Jody Bishop-Pullan, dental case manager for Stamford’s public school dental clinics.

Bishop-Pullan also stated, according to the release, that the program provides x-rays and cleanings and a second grade sealant program, which places a plastic surface over the biting surface of a child's molars to prevent cavities in all of Stamford’s elementary schools.

Stamford Kiwanian, Louise Cronin, coordinator of the Club’s newly formed Kiwanis Smiles pediatric dental health education initiative said, in the release,  “Helping meet this vital need is an ideal way to launch Kiwanis Smiles. Working with the Stamford Department of Health and Social Services and the Stamford Public Schools, the Kiwanis Club is looking forward to bring dental hygiene education and some fun to entering kindergarteners this Fall.”