Smiles on wheels

Each month, the Dental Van teams with the Night Ministry, serving some of Chicago’s most underserved neighborhoods. Vidalia Ruiz takes a look at Dr. Ashley Orth’s dental handiwork. Dr. Ann Marie Maggio, attending dentist, checks resident Dr. Ashley Orth’s patient. Just one of 11 teeth pulled from a total of 11 patients during the course of the evening. Dr. Ashley Orth, dental resident, and Nohora Hernandez, dental assistant examine Jose Rodriguez, Jr. Dr. Ann Marie Maggio, attending dentist, takes a look at a patient’s X-ray. Jose Rodriguez, Jr. gets a tooth removed. Robert Knapczyk listens to his dentist’s advice prior to his treatment. Jose Amparan grimaces as Dr. Rachel Embree, dental resident, numbs his mouth. Nohora Hernandez, dental assistant, lightly strokes the head of Vidalia Ruiz, who flinches in tears from the pain of the numbing injections she receives. “That’s the best thing about this job—watching people leave happy,” says Omar Abarca, dental assistant and driver. Omar Abarca, dental assistant, and Dr. Rachel Embree, dental resident, examine the site of one woman’s dental pain.