Something to Smile About
Trust Investments in Dental Programs Help Low-income Children, Youth with Special Needs, Homeless Older Adults
Many residents in Maricopa County don’t have anything to smile about when it comes to oral health. Although the prevalence of tooth decay has decreased significantly over the past several decades, the number of people who do not have access to quality, low-cost dental care remains high. What’s more, the challenges that result from tooth decay extend far beyond appearance and chronic pain; studies increasingly show that poor oral health can lead to a host of maladies ranging from heart disease and stroke to diabetes and, in some cases, premature death.
In the past several years, the Piper Trust has invested in programs that provide dental services for those most at risk: low-income children, children and youth with special needs, and homeless older adults. While early grants to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul helped establish the Virginia G. Piper Medical and Dental Clinic to serve the healthcare needs of the working poor, the Trust recently has funded several additional programs to extend dental services to those in need.
Through an innovative partnership, three foundations developed a program to provide free dental sealants to more than 10,000 children who do not have dental insurance. The Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation, the BHHS Legacy Foundation and the Piper Trust are funding a three-year, $540,000 project that will establish portable dental services in Phoenix’s Alhambra, Osborn and Washington school districts to seal the permanent molars of uninsured students in second and sixth grades.
"Dental sealants have demonstrated long-term, safe and effective reduction in dental decay," said Delta Dental's Dr. Jerry Denning. "Dental sealants are non-invasive and pain free for students, and it's less costly to provide sealants to school-age children at their schools than in a traditional private dental setting, with less learning time lost."
Supported by a $268,000 grant from the Trust, A.T. Still University of Health Sciences, Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health dental clinic in Mesa recently became the first in the Valley to establish a surgical suite to treat the complex oral health needs of children and young adults with special needs. Not only does the dental clinic provide a comfortable, minimally invasive environment for special needs patients, it also equips student dentists with the skills and experience to treat a broad range of oral maladies.
In addition to extensive training at the dental clinic, A.T. Still student dentists are required to volunteer their services throughout the community. In July 2006, the first dental students began a rotation at the Central Arizona Shelter Services Dental Clinic at the Human Services Campus in downtown Phoenix.
The students join more than 300 volunteer dentists and dental hygienists who, along with 110 labs across the country, donate their services to treat the clinic’s more than 3,600 homeless patients. Assisted by a $66,500 grant from the Trust, the eight-chair, state-of-the-art facility is an integral part of the Human Services Campus’ continuum of care aimed at helping homeless individuals transition from life on the streets.
“For many homeless individuals, dental problems and pain have become part of their lives,” said Dental Director Dr. Kris Volcheck. “Thanks to our volunteers, donors and labs that provide free services, our ability to restore without limit serves the homeless very well.”
ABOUT THE DELTA DENTAL OF ARIZONA FOUNDATION
Since 1972, Delta Dental of Arizona has enjoyed a premier position as the caretaker of oral health for hundreds of thousands of citizens throughout the state and is a valued partner with employers, dentists and individual subscribers dedicated to quality oral healthcare. The Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation is a nonprofit benefit corporation dedicated to improving the oral health of uninsured individuals and communities in Arizona. Since its inception, the foundation has donated more than $1.7 million to various community organizations, dental clinics and oral health initiatives.
ABOUT A.T. STILL UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES, ARIZONA SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY & ORAL HEALTH Home of the world's first osteopathic medical school, established in 1892, A.T. Still University is recognized around the world. A renowned, multidisciplinary healthcare educator, ATSU instills in students the knowledge, integrity, compassion and hands-on experience needed to address the needs of the whole person. A.T. Still University provides graduate and professional school programs in healthcare fields at campuses in Kirksville, Missouri, and Mesa, Arizona. ABOUT THE CENTRAL ARIZONA SHELTER SERVICES DENTAL CLINIC The primary mission of Central Arizona Shelter Services and the CASS Dental Clinic is to get homeless men, women and children back on their feet and supporting themselves. The dental clinic does this by first relieving pain and infection and then by completely restoring their mouths. The clinic provides all phases of dentistry to the homeless including extensive hygiene, crown and bridge work, dentures, partials, root canals, oral surgery, porcelain crowns and veneers, and implants. This is all done by volunteer dentists, hygienists and assistants working together with volunteer dental labs throughout the state and country. Because of the collaboration of these dental professionals, the clinic has become a national model for providing dental solutions that help the homeless return to productive lives.
CONTACT:Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation
www.deltadentalaz.com/foundation
A.T. Still University of Health Sciences, Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health
480.219.6000
www.atsu.edu
CASS Dental Clinic
602-758-9000
http://cass-az.org/dental.html |
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