Dental clinic receives boost from United Way

Children living in poverty often don’t practice or have access to dental care, but they soon could get free checkups at their child care centers.

United Way of Wyoming Valley officials announced Wednesday the organization will provide a $30,000 grant to help Volunteers in Medicine Dental Clinic partner with local child care centers to provide dental checkups at an early age as well as educational information about dental care.

Dr. Gary Hughes, dentist; dental hygienist Lora Gilroy and Darcie Schaffer, assistant to the executive director at the Volunteers in Medicine Clinic, visited the Child Development Council child care center in Wilkes-Barre to offer checkups to youngsters enrolled in the Pre-K Counts program.

When they asked the children how many of them have been to a dentist, less than half raised their hands. They also found that a couple children had major cavities and sent home information to their parents, Schaffer said.

“If they are not taken care of, they are going to hurt,” she said.

When children don’t practice or have access to dental care, United Way of Wyoming Valley president and CEO Bill Jones said that can lead to illnesses that can impact their success in school and later in life. He said dental problems should never be a barrier to education.

“We believe dental care at this age is so critical,” Jones said. “Oral health problems are one of the leading causes of absenteeism as kids get older. The right care early on and the right parental education around these issues can go a very long way in avoiding problems later in life.”

Many low-income children in Pennsylvania are covered by Pennsylvania’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or Medicaid.

Yet, Jennifer Deemer, vice president of community impact for the United Way, said some parents still have barriers to getting their children to a dentist. Those barriers include work or transportation issues. Through the program, she said children can get checkups in child care centers and their parents can receive educational information.

“It’s wonderful because a lot of children don’t have the opportunity to get to the dentist until they’re older,” said Kathleen Kowalksi, director of the Child Development Council. “And for a lot of them who do go to private dentists, it’s a little traumatic for them. This way, they’re with their friends. It’s a nice introduction to the dentist.”

For information about the Volunteers in Medicine Dental Clinic, call 570-970-2864.

Source: http://citizensvoice.com/news/dental-clinic-receives-boost-from-united-way-1.1964407

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