Dan served 4 years as a survivor instructor for air crews. He taught survival skills and techniques for adverse terrains (desert, water, jungle) and behind enemy lines escape and evasion tactics. After his enlistment in the Air Force, Dan joined the Army because he desired to use his skills in a combat environment. Dan was quickly promoted to senior analyst. In 1968 Dan volunteered to serve in Vietnam. Once he arrived in country he signed on with a special operations group. He completed 9 special operations with this unit spending a total of 20 months in North and South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. During his time in Vietnam, Dan was involved in multiple fire fights, and hand to hand combat. During one operation Dan was driving a swift boat when it came under fire. Dan’s best friend at the time was manning the m-60 machine gun up top. Dan witnessed his best friend pay the ultimate sacrifice that day after receiving a fatal gunshot wound. Luckily the remaining 10 troops were able to escape with their lives. Today, flashbacks and nightmares of these experiences often keep Dan awake at night.

It was during this 20 month voluntary deployment that Dan first began to have trouble with his teeth. He didn’t have the time or motivation to properly take care of them in this environment. With Dan, like so many other veterans, it was always “mission first”.

Dan stayed in the Army until 1972 and later joined the Navy in 1977. He went on to serve for 7 years in naval intelligence.

In 1984 Dan pursued a civilian career running commercial ships. He did this until 2001 when his career was cut short due to his failing vision. He was no longer able to pass the required physical in order to operate the ships.

Between 2002- 2004, Dan started losing all of his teeth. Many of them he pulled with his bare hands because he had no access to dental care. Even with 15 years in the military and all of his combat experience, he did not qualify for dental care through the VA.

In 2004 Dan became homeless as he could no longer afford housing. He now lives in halfway home and is able to scrape by with only social security as income.

When Dan came to the Sgt. Clint Ferrin Dental Clinic, he hadn’t had any teeth for over 7 years. He never had any extra money to purchase dentures so he managed without them. Every time Dan came in for an appointment he expressed his gratitude to finally be able have teeth again.

We are truly grateful to be able to provide Dan with a new set of dentures. His extraordinary example of service to our country is inspiring to us all.

Mandy continued to have back pain after being discharged.  She underwent three back surgeries at various VA clinics but continues to have pain.

As the years went by, Mandy’s dental health declined.  Being on a fixed income, she was not able to afford routine and preventative dental care.  It wasn’t long before she was in pain and having a very difficult time eating due to the status of her teeth.

At 40 years old, her dental pain was too much to handle. Teeth that were once strong and healthy were now decayed with a hopeless prognosis. With no other options, she went to Barksdale Air force Base and begged them to pull all of her teeth so she wouldn’t have to live in pain every day.  She was informed that due to her low income, she qualified for extractions and dentures.   It was here that Mandy received her first set of dentures.

Mandy was able to move on with her life, but would soon face more challenges.  At 52 Mandy lost her vision in both eyes due to complications of what was later diagnosed as temporal arteritis.  Unfortunately, this damage was permanent.

At 53, in late 2010, Mandy experienced yet another misfortune.  Her dog somehow got hold of her dentures and completely destroyed them.   Mandy had no money to replace these dentures and her diet soon suffered as a result.  Vegetables and fruits were no longer an option.  She searched diligently to try and find a way to get new teeth, but it was to no avail.  About 6 months later, she saw her physician who told her she needs to improve her diet as it was negatively affecting her diabetes.  She went to the VA dental clinic but was told that she could not receive care because she did not have a full pension from the Air Force.

A month later, her physician found out about the Sgt. Clint Ferrin Dental Clinic and gave her a flier.   She eagerly had a friend fill out the application for her.  When she heard that she was approved and that she would receive new dentures at no cost, she was elated.  She called all of her friends to let them know she was going to be able to have teeth again.

The day her new dentures were delivered, she had the student dentist take pictures on her phone so she could send them to all of her friends.  Mandy expressed gratitude not only for her new smile and improved ability to eat, but also for the kindness she was shown, and the optimism she felt while being treated at the Sgt. Clint Ferrin Dental Clinic.

As Donald aged, his dental health declined.  Donald’s finances were very limited and he was unable to afford dental treatment.  Donald never requested a pension from the Navy because he wanted the money to go to other Veterans who were in greater need than himself.  During visits to the VA, Donald requested dental treatment for his ever increasing dental pain. He was informed that because he was not 100% disabled, they would not be able to treat his dental needs.  He was given a flier for the Sgt. Clint Ferrin Dental Clinic.

Donald was 83 years old when he arrived at the Sgt. Clint Ferrin Dental Clinic. His teeth were severely broken down and filled with cavities.  Too much damage had been done to save his teeth and dentures were needed.   Donald was able to have all his remaining teeth pulled and dentures made at no cost to him.  Donald expressed much gratitude to finally be able to smile again and eat without having pain.

During Donald’s treatments, a small lesion was discovered on his lower lip.  After removal and biopsy, this lesion turned out to be pre-cancerous.  If left untreated, this lesion could have easily been life threatening in the near future.

Donald’s example of service to our country is unforgettable.  We are honored to be able to say “thank you” by providing him with a new smile.

Dental student establishes clinic to provide free treatment for veterans and National Guard troops deemed nondeployable due to poor oral health.

05/27/2010

Local veterans and National Guard soldiers now have something to smile about – literally. Many are getting free dental care thanks to a UNLV program honoring a fallen soldier.

The Sergeant Clint Ferrin Memorial Clinic began nearly two years ago, initially treating National Guard troops deemed nondeployable because of poor oral health. It now serves all veterans who can’t afford dental care.

Deployed soldiers often neglect their oral health. “The last thing they are thinking about is brushing and flossing,” said John Ferrin, a UNLV dental student and Army National Guard member who started the clinic. “Soldiers are focused on their mission and staying alive. Unfortunately, the bone loss from periodontal disease is not easily replaced.”

A Brother’s Love
The program came about because Ferrin wanted to pay tribute to America’s veterans. Ferrin’s brother, Clint, a member of the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, was killed in Iraq in 2004 by an improvised explosive device while leading his platoon in a mission.

“We are here to give back to those who have sacrificed so much for us,” Ferrin said. “My brother instilled in me a respect for veterans. This respect, in combination with the neglect of [Clint's] own oral health while serving, is how the idea for the clinic began.”

Clint had several teeth that caused him pain while serving and he eventually lost a tooth during training. It took him two years to get a temporary prosthetic, which wasn’t worn often because of its poor fit. “Unfortunately, Clint never had the opportunity to get an implant to help restore not only his smile but also his self-confidence.”

National Recognition
In recognition of the dental school’s outreach efforts, the American Dental Association Foundation awarded the 2009 Bud Tarrson Dental School Student Community Leadership Award to the program.

Although the clinic is something to be proud of, Ferrin said that his brother would be embarrassed by all the attention. “However, he loved veterans and he loved this country. Deep down he would feel honored and humbled that his name was used to reach out to this great country’s veterans.”

The dental school has held 11 clinics, with about 30 patients receiving free treatment at each session, including more than 120 veterans. Dental students, supervised by licensed dentists, provide treatments such as cleanings, restorations, extractions, and crowns.

Antonio Montenegro, president of the UNLV Student Veterans Organization, has benefited from the free clinics - having his teeth cleaned, cavities filled, and crowns replaced. “It is more than just the dental work, it is these efforts that inspire our organization to keep giving back to the veterans on campus and in the community.”

Montenegro served in the Army for three years, participating in Iraqi Freedom. He recently received his bachelor’s degree and plans to attend graduate school at UNLV.

Ferrin hopes other schools will follow UNLV’s lead and start similar clinics.

“It is inspiring to see the faculty donate their talents and time on behalf of the veterans,” Ferrin said. “The gratitude the veterans show for the treatment is touching and I want others to experience the same.”

The ADA Foundation created the E. Bud Tarrson Access to Oral Health Care Award in 2003 and each year recognizes one exemplary volunteer community service project developed by dental students enrolled in a predoctoral dental education program.

- By Shane Bevell. Originally published in UNLV Impacts, May 2010.

February 26, 2010

Developed oral health project to aid Nevada National Guard troops, military veterans

Contact Information:

Telephone: 312-440-2806
E-mail: mediarelations@ada.org (Journalists) or Contact ADA (All Others)

CHICAGO, Feb. 26, 2010—The ADA Foundation awarded its 2009 Bud Tarrson Dental School Student Community Leadership Award to the University of Nevada at Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine in recognition of an oral health treatment program for National Guard troops. The UNLV School of Dental Medicine will receive $5,000 with the award to enhance student education and outreach to underserved populations.

“This selfless effort by these dental students exemplifies what the ADA Foundation and the Tarrson Access to Oral Health Care Award are all about,” stated Dr. Arthur A. Dugoni, president, ADA Foundation. “We are improving the lives and dental health of others by connecting people and investing in the human potential of so many individuals.”
Created in 2003, in memory of philanthropist Bud Tarrson, former chief executive officer and owner of the John O. Butler Company, the award recognizes one exemplary volunteer community service project developed by dental students enrolled in a predoctoral dental education program. A Chicago native, Mr. Tarrson was a director of the former ADA Health Foundation (now ADA Foundation) from 1994 –1999.

UNLV dental students access to care award project

In 2008, UNLV dental students founded the “Sergeant Clint Ferrin Memorial Clinic” to help meet the oral health needs of National Guard troops deemed non-deployable because of dental problems. Some of these troops cannot access dental care because they are not on active duty, making them ineligible for military benefits. The program has since expanded to include all local military veterans with limited access to dental care.

The first clinic, held in July 2008 at the UNLV School of Dental Medicine, treated 19 patients. Since then, there have been six additional clinics, with approximately 30 patients receiving free treatment at each session, including over 100 veterans. UNLV dental students, supervised by Nevada licensed dentists, provided treatment that included restorations, root canals, extractions, crowns and dentures.

The clinic honors the memory of a UNLV dental student’s brother killed in action in 2004, while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Between 2004 and 2008, the Tarrson Award honored outstanding community service on the part of a practicing dentist or lay person. In 2009, the ADA Foundation rededicated the Tarrson Award program to highlight significant dental student outreach to vulnerable communities.

“The new approach to this annual award program supports the efforts and acknowledges the initiative and outreach of dental students across the country,” said Linda Tarrson, who initiated the award in honor of her late husband. “Selecting this year’s recipient was difficult because there are so many outstanding student programs that are supporting the ideals of professional service and outreach to the community.”

She added, “I’m extremely proud of the UNLV program and its students for their desire to go beyond what is expected and to be of service to those in the community who are truly in need of oral healthcare.”

March 17, 2010

A Brother’s Love

By Jennifer Garvin

Las Vegas—John Ferrin wanted to do something that would both honor his late brother and take care of the veterans he spent his life admiring.

As a student at the University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine, dentistry is John’s passion—and he hoped that a dental clinic dedicated to improving the oral health of soldiers would serve as the perfect tribute to his brother and a great way to get involved with donating care.

What began as an idea in October 2007 quickly became a reality, and in July 2008 the Sergeant Clint Ferrin Memorial Clinic opened the doors to its first patients. Initially treating those troops deemed non-deployable because of oral disease, the clinic has since expanded to include all veterans who can’t afford care.

For that initiative and for its significant contribution to student outreach, UNLV was the 2009 recipient of the ADA Foundation Bud Tarrson Dental School Student Community Leadership Award.

“This selfless effort by these dental students exemplifies what the ADA Foundation and the Tarrson Access to Oral Health Care Award are all about,” said Dr. Arthur A. Dugoni, president, ADA Foundation. “We are improving the lives and dental health of others by connecting people and investing in the human potential of so many individuals.”

Added Linda Tarrson, who initiated the award in honor of her late husband, Bud, “There were so many outstanding applicants but this program, to me, personified the award.

I’m extremely proud of the UNLV program and its students for their desire to go beyond what is expected and to be of service to those in the community who are in such need of oral health care.”

The first UNLV clinic treated 19 patients and the school has since put on six additional clinics, with about 30 patients receiving free treatment at each session, including more than 100 veterans. The clinic is operated by UNLV dental students but supervised by Nevada licensed dentists and provides a full range of treatment including restorations, root canal therapy, extractions, crowns and dentures.

John’s brother, Clint, was a member of the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division. He died while serving in Iraq in 2004.

John said the seed for the clinic was planted about two years ago when he first started dental school. He remembered how his brother suffered from tooth pain but didn’t want to take time off to visit a dentist. The pain persisted and he eventually lost one of his lateral incisors during a training accident at work. It would be two years before he would bother to get a low-cost prosthesis to replace it. Meanwhile, he was in pain and wouldn’t smile.

“It’s kind of a stigma in the military to take a day off just to deal with a tooth,” said John, who is now in his third year.

“When these men and women are out in these high stress atmospheres, they ignore their oral health,” he said, “and the effects of that last for years.”

In its application for the award, UNLV dental student Jarom Mauer summarized John’s belief that the clinic chooses to serve veterans because “these individuals often have inadequate access to care because they are not currently on active duty” and thus, “not eligible for military benefits.”

Clint was a hero to John, who described a memory of visiting a cemetery near where the family used to live in Mississippi.

Together, he, Clint and their youngest brother, Brandon, cleaned dirt and leaves off the tombstones of veterans and then placed small flags at the graves.

“It wasn’t Memorial Day or anything,” he said. “It was just an ordinary day.”

John said the money from the Tarrson Award will be used to support the clinic. Doctors and students have been great about donating their time, he said, but the clinic relies on local businesses for supplies. For instance, one laboratory donates denture cases, but “we still have to pay for the prosthetic teeth.”

The ADA Foundation created the E. Bud Tarrson Access to Oral Health Care Award in 2003 in honor of philanthropist Bud Tarrson, former chief executive officer and owner of the John O. Butler Company. Each year, the award recognizes one exemplary volunteer community service project developed by dental students enrolled in a predoctoral dental education program.

It is John’s hope that other dental schools will take on similar projects helping veterans.

“It’s a really good feeling,” he said. “One of my soft spots is watching the faculty and students volunteer. It’s really inspiring!”

After graduation in 2011, John said he plans to finish out his own assignment in the National Guard and enter general practice.

John said he thinks about his brother all the time. He misses him and considers him his personal hero, but there is one thing that makes him smile.

“He hated attention,” he said. “He’d be happy for the veterans but embarrassed it was happening in his name.”

For more information about the Tarrson Award or other ADA Foundation programs, visit www.adafoundation.org.