An army of dental students clad in blue scrubs converged on Kaiser Permanente’s Dental Office in Longview on Saturday to treat a number of tooth problems for low-income children and adults. But it was about more than just fixing teeth.

“We try to help students understand what it’s like to be a poor child in Southwest Washington,” said Darlene Smolen, coordinator for Community Health Partners. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to provide the dental students the experience of working with disadvantaged people, and hopefully they will feel that compassion.”

The University of Washington Community Dental Clinic, which provides free dental services in Longview every three months, observed its 10th year at Saturday’s event. The clinic is a partnership between the UW dental school, Kaiser Permanente, FISH and the local Community Health Partners and serves Medicaid-eligible children and their parents.

Several local agencies serving those families referred their clients to the dental clinic. Fifty patients were scheduled to be seen Saturday.

“We’ll use more supplies in one day than the (Kaiser) clinic uses in one week,” Smolen said, adding that Kaiser pays for all the supplies, as well as the space and five staff members.

Dr. Peter Milgrom, professor of dental public health sciences at the university, said the clinic is completely student-run.

“They see to it that it’s all arranged. This is not for credit, it’s not a class,” Milgrom said. “If we’re going to teach them about community involvement, then part of that lesson is that sometimes you don’t get paid.”

Student Stefanie Hamamoto, 26, who will complete her dental schooling in less than a year, oversaw Saturday’s clinic. She first came to the clinic as a pre-dental student.

“It means a lot to me,” she said. “My first involvement was a big inspiration for me to become a dentist.”

Hamamoto said recruiting student volunteers is never a problem. “In fact, we have a waiting list,” she said. “Some are third- and fourth-year students. For others, it’s their first time.”

Dr. Navid Newport, who is a pediatric dentist at Lower Columbia Oral Health in Longview, said he became familiar with the area when he participated in the clinic as a third-year student.

“I knew from coming here that I enjoyed working with this population,” said Newport, 32, who was one of the three dentists overseeing students’ work Saturday. “Most dentist offices don’t take medical coupons. How can you not treat kids? I knew this was an impoverished area, but I didn’t want to work in some suburb of Seattle. I take pride that I can help.”

Milgrom said getting dentists like Newport into rural areas is part of the mission of the UW’s dental clinic here.

“Navid never would have been exposed to this area if he hadn’t come down with this clinic,” Milgrom said. “Dentists sometimes sell themselves short. Here they learn if they go into a community to practice, they can also participate in helping that community. We’re trying to make it a richer experience than to just fix teeth. Those mouths are connected to bodies and real people.”

UW Community Dental Clinic By the Numbers

August 1999: First clinic held

Number of clinics since: 41

Number of dental patients treated: 2,008

Number of volunteer hours: 20,872

Number of people at Saturday’s clinic: 40 UW pre-dental and dental students and faculty; 21 local volunteers; 50 patients