New Grant Will Allow Low-Income Residents to Get Better Dental Care

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WILSON — A new grant will allow low-income residents of Wilson, Nash and Edgecombe counties to get better dental care.

Carolina Family Health Centers will get $100,000 over the next three years to add two full-time dental hygienists, improve salaries for its current staff and do additional community outreach and education.

The $300,000 grant comes from the Health and Wellness Trust Fund Commission, formed by the legislature to promote health and wellness in North Carolina.

The grant is one of seven grants totaling $1.9 million that were awarded statewide as part of the trust fund’s Oral Health Initiative. The initiative is designed to increase access to treatment and preventive services for low-income, high-need populations.

“It is unfortunate that many North Carolina citizens do not receive basic dental care, which is so critical for overall good health,” said Vandana Shah, the trust fund’s executive director. “We hope that these grant funds will provide more North Carolina citizens with access to high-quality, accessible oral health care.”

In 2006, about 32 percent of adults in North Carolina reported that they had not seen a dentist within a year. The percentages were higher among Native Americans (39 percent), African-Americans (42 percent) and Hispanics (56 percent).

More: http://www.newsobserver.com