Dentists to Provide Free Dental Work to Uninsured

Oakdale dentists donate day to uninsured

OAKDALE — Linnea Larson says it’s been a few years since she last saw a dentist. The Oakdale retiree gets by on $1,400 a month in Social Security and can’t afford dental insurance.

Larson was among the 60 or so patients who received free dental care Monday at River Oak Dental Spa. They got their teeth X-rayed, examined and cleaned. Others had cavities filled and bad teeth pulled.

Medi-Cal is the state insurance program for low-income families with children, the disabled and low-income seniors. In July, the state eliminated Medi-Cal dental care for adults as part of its efforts to balance its budget.

About 3 million Californians lost their coverage, said Anthony Wright, executive director of the Sacramento-based nonprofit Health Access.

More: http://www.modbee.com

Dental students volunteer free care

Dental careers students from West Potomac Academy volunteered as dental assistants in the Mission of Mercy (MOMS) project alongside dentists, hygienists and other assistants to offer free dental care to the community Friday and Saturday at the Northern Virginia Community College Medical Campus in Springfield.

Students helped dentists and dental hygienists and took X-rays. While working with patients, students must demonstrate poise, professionalism, knowledge and a courteous chairside rapport with their patients. Some students are able to speak to patients in their native languages, easing communication and providing comfort during procedures.

More: http://www.fairfaxtimes.com

Dental Services to be Offered in Schools

Dental services will soon be inside schools and some day cares across south-central Kentucky

Thanks to a $250,000 grant from the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, the Barren River District Health Department is looking to help save the teeth of school kids regardless of their ability to pay.

It’s a plan that will bring dental education into the classroom.

More: http://www.wbko.com

Free dental care proves popular with those who can’t afford it

The clinic, which offers free dental care to those who can’t afford it, has been operating since the early 1990s, said Steve Patterson, a professor of dentistry who co-ordinates the event.

Originally, the clinic was open to anyone who needed it, but the demand proved overwhelming. Today, Open Wide is limited to those referred by outside agencies, such as poverty groups and those that deal with new immigrants.

On Tuesday more than 100 students from three different programs saw and treated about 200 patients. They performed cleanings, filled cavities and pulled teeth.

More: http://www.edmontonjournal.com

MusicCares offers free dental screenings for musicians

Many musicians do not have insurance and are prone to neglect their teeth needs in favor of buying reeds. And, in the current economy, many musicians and their spouses have lost what the industry calls their “survival jobs.”

With that in mind, MusicCares hosted free dental screenings for 26 Chicago musicians earlier this month at the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) offices. Established in 1989 by the Recording Academy, MusicCares also offers emergency financial assistance for basic living needs and medical expenses for musicians in need.

More: http://www.suntimes.com

County Starting Mobile Dental Clinic for Students

The Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services Department, (HCS) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony, March 8th, for the opening of its new “Smiles to Go” mobile dental clinic.

If the mobile clinic looks like a ordinary RV with a custom paint job, the inside looks like an ordinary—if cramped—dentist’s office.
With the mobile clinic parked in the Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts parking lot, county officials explained what the clinic would do for the county, as well as the clinic’s background.

More: http://www.kalamazooweekly.com

Free dental clinic at Lakewood Dental Clinic

Alyson talks with Dr. Richard Hixson from Lakewood Dental Care about an upcoming free dental clinic. Lakewood Dental Clinic will provide free treatment on Friday, April 9, to adults who don’t have access to regular dental care.

Dentistry From the Heart will treat patients on a first-come, first-served basis. The full-day event will serve adults who cannot access these services due to financial hardship or lack of insurance.

More: http://www.todaysthv.com

Dental volunteers do their part to keep kids smiling happy new pet owner

Volunteers from the Tidewater Dental Association, the Boys and Girls Club of Hampton Roads and the ODU School of Dental Hygiene get together on a Saturday every year to provide free dental care to Hampton Roads children.

This year, despite inclement weather, the Give Kids a Smile event in Hampton Roads went ahead as planned Feb. 6. The event is the annual centerpiece of National Children’s Dental Health month.

Eighty-six patients were seen this year and well over $10,000 worth of care was provided, thanks to all the volunteers. Their initiative and stewardship help to improve oral health for those who might otherwise not be able to afford it.

More: http://www.dentistryiq.com