The Vermont State Dental Society (VSDS) honored George “Spin” Richardson, D.D.S., a retired pediatric dentist and founding member of the Timberlane Dental Group, to receive the Peter F. Taylor Award for the Exemplary Service to the Oral Health of Vermonters at its annual meeting on Sept. 19, 2013.
The award is given to the Vermonter who best exemplifies the core values of the VSDS through his or her commitment to the oral health of Vermonters and is named after the man who led the dental society for 33 years. Dr. Richardson is also a past president of the VSDS.
The award was presented to Dr. Richardson on Thursday, September 19, 2013 at the annual meeting of the VSDS in Burlington. Sen. Jane Kitchel of Danville and Dr. David Averill, D.D.S., outgoing president of the VSDS, presented the award. The award is an American flag framed in a black walnut shadow box, which was flown over the Vermont State House on September 11, 2013.
Dr. Richardson retired from the dentistry profession in 2009 but continued to work with his colleagues to recruit more dentists to treat underserved children covered by Medicaid, despite the fact Medicaid reimburses providers at rates lower than other insurance plans.
He is well known for his work with leaders from the Vermont Health Department and the VSDS to gain more support to treat lower income families through Vermont’s Head Start program. Head Start is a national child development program, which provides comprehensive development services for low-income children and social services for their families. Dr. Richardson’s efforts to get kids an early start on oral health resulted in getting more of Vermont’s dentists to treat children on Medicaid. Today, more than 80% of Vermont dentists are on board.
An early start on oral health reduces problems children may have in the future, including tooth or mouth pain and days missed from school.
“I just like doing this,” said Richardson upon his retirement. “Our goal has always been to make sure every child has a dental home.’’
The Vermont State Dental Society is the leading resource for improving the oral health of every Vermonter. It is a voluntary membership organization of dental professionals who, together with the American Dental Association (ADA), work to improve the oral health of the citizens of Vermont and serve the profession of dentistry.