Ten-year associate at nation’s largest privately-owned dental distributor delivers smiles to Pennsylvania students

Unless it’s during a visit to the dentist, people rarely volunteer details on their toothbrush and floss habits. Not the case with the five-and-under crowd at Building Blocks Learning Center in Dallas, Pennsylvania. This summer, 26 students there were more than willing to express their enthusiasm for dental hygiene, as well as love and admiration for the Benco Dental Tooth Fairy.

Resplendent in white attire and a glittering crown and wings, Pat Motyka, a Tooth Customer Service Specialist at the dental distributor’s home office in Pittston, entered a classroom at Building Blocks Learning Center on July 19.

While students were rushing to impress her with discussion of the frequency of their brush and floss routines, a particularly excited young girl eagerly raised her hand to tell the Tooth Fairy that she loved her. Two others, Delilah and Vijay showered the Fairy with compliments about her “sparkly wings” and the gifts she presented them before she took flight: a take-home package for each student complete with a dental kit, stickers and other surprises.

“They know she’s real, rather than just their imagination. Seeing the Tooth Fairy in their class makes them think, ‘Oh, I have to brush my teeth, I have to make sure they’re healthy.’ They know that when they lose a tooth it’ll be OK; she’ll visit and keep their teeth safe.”

A teacher at Building Blocks Learning Center, Dallas, PA

Students intently listened and watched as the Larksville-based Tooth Fairy spoke to the importance of brushing and flossing, read two stories about dental hygiene, and distributed cartoon tooth coloring sheets. Motyka offered students a hands-on experience by allowing them to brush the teeth of Finn, a plush shark puppet used for dental hygiene demos (shown at top). Students were able to practice proper technique with an oversized toothbrush.

Though new to the Tooth Fairy role, with just two classroom visits under her wings, Motyka brings 10 years of dental industry experience to her position at Benco Dental.

“Later that day, my coworker Dave Tosh (Benco Fleet and Logistics Manager) emailed me. His daughter was one of the students, and she couldn’t wait to come home to tell him about my visit. That made me feel really good.”

Benco Tooth Fairy Pat Motyka

Aside from adding a little sparkle to their day, she feels her visits make a difference.

“A lot of parents don’t tell their kids about dental health — I know mine didn’t. I think it’s important, because that’s the first thing you see when you talk to someone: their teeth. Benco was kind enough to donate tooth gel, toothbrushes, and brushing charts for the dental kit, which will help them.”

Benco Tooth Fairy Pat Motyka

For details, visit benco.com or call 1.800.GO.BENCO.