Have braces? He'll travel
<p>Dr. Thomas Jaeger watches as one of his assistants adjusts the braces of another assistant Tuesday morning in his mobile orthodontic clinic after providing care to several students of Woodland Middle School.</p>
<p>Dr. Thomas Jaeger checks up on his assistant, Sammy FindleyÕs braces Tuesday morning after providing orthodontic services to students of Woodland Middle School in JaegerÕs mobile clinic.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - Dr. Thomas Jaeger and his staff call it "Zahnfee."
That's tooth fairy in German, and it's probably a fair description of the way parents and teachers of kids with braces feel about the Coeur d'Alene orthodontist's new mobile office. Built into a motor home, the rolling office will reduce the amount of school kids miss when they need to have their braces adjusted, because the office will come to their middle or high school.
"It's very state-of-the-art. We're pretty excited," Jaeger said.
Jaeger said he began thinking about the mobile office concept when his own children needed orthodontia.
"It was a real challenge for us to get them in to appointments," Jaeger said. "My kids didn't want to miss school. They had things going on after school that they wanted to be there for."
Jaeger pointed out another benefit. Since school funding is based on attendance, helping keep kids in school should have a positive impact on a district's finances.
He said he's unaware of other mobile orthodontist offices.
"Hopefully, I think you'll see this all over the country eventually. It's that kind of an idea," Jaeger said.
Matt Handelman, Coeur d'Alene public schools superintendent, said the district is not endorsing Jaeger's practice, but is supportive of the concept. The mobile office is not allowed to park on school property, but will be parked nearby.
Another orthodontist in town offers a service designed to get kids to and from their appointments quickly during school hours.
Curtis Orthodontics has a VIP (Very Important Patient) School Shuttle that picks kids up at school and then drops them off immediately following their appointment.
"We worked with the Coeur d'Alene School District to find the best way to help their kids minimize missing school," said Sonny Curtis. "It's a complementary service. The benefit is that the parent doesn't have to take time off from work to bring their children to their appointments."
The VIP Shuttle has been in operation for nearly two years in Coeur d'Alene.
Handelman said the district's top priorities are teaching kids and keeping them safe, so guidelines have been developed for the schools and orthodontists' offices to follow.
Nothing is done without a parent or guardian's permission.
Orthodontists' staff members who interact with students must be security screened, and must provide identification before escorting students out of the school or driving them.
"I applaud these vendors," Handelman said. "I see this as a trend that might be continuing."