Taking a cue from the Monongalia County Health Department Dentistry’s annual Give Kids a Smile, MCHD Healthy Smiles Day will provide a free cleaning and checkup for adults 18 years and older who do not have dental insurance.
“We always look for ways we can be charitable,” said Dr. Dan Carrier, dentist and program manager for MCHD Dentistry at the health department.
“We thought that this time of year, we can do something like a charity day. We haven’t done anything for adults, and this was something different.”
Appointments are already booked for 21 individuals, who will be seen between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Wednesday.
In addition to a cleaning and checkup, if needed, patients have the opportunity for restorative work to be done by Carrier. Also, Dr. Matt Koepke, a local oral surgeon, has donated his time to provide same-day oral surgery services.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 2014-17, about 50% of the United States population ages 18 to 64 had dental insurance. Those percentages varied depending on the region. The South Atlantic region, which includes West Virginia, had one of the lower percentages at 45.6%.
Also, according to the CDC, the percentage of adults ages 18 to 44 with untreated cavities from 2013-16 was 31.6%; and the percentage of adults ages 18 to 64 with a dental visit in 2017 was 64%.
There are several obvious reasons good dental health is important, however, people might not realize good tooth health contributes to overall health.
For instance, gum disease increases the risk of having bacterial infection in the bloodstream, which can damage heart valves. The American Heart Association notes that research has shown a connection between heart disease and periodontal disease, the symptoms of which include gum infection, gum inflammation and tooth damage.
MCHD Dentistry is a full-service dental practice with services that include cleanings, exams, oral health education, oral cancer screenings, digital X-rays, dental sealants, mouth guards, simple extractions, root canals, bridges, crowns, implants, dentures and partials, custom bleaching trays, in-office bleaching, cosmetic bonding, porcelain veneers and Invisalign.
MCHD Dentistry also accepts a variety of payment options, including check, cash and credit card; CareCredit; sliding fee discount; new patient special; insurance; and Medicaid and CHIP.
Initial patient response to MCHD Healthy Smiles Day was good, Carrier noted, and he hopes to be able to make this an annual event like Give Kids a Smile, which is traditionally held the first Friday in February.
“My hope for MCHD Healthy Smiles Day is that we raise awareness for oral health care in adults, highlight our health department and raise awareness about the dental services provided here.”
