Ask Karen Dental care for those who need it most
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By Karen McNew
WSLS10 Anchor
Published: September 3, 2008
Q: Do you know of ANY area dentists who will take payments? We do not have dental insurance and cannot afford to go. Thank you so much.
Sincerely,
Donna
A: As I’ve highlighted in 10 On Your Side Health reports recently, a person’s dental health can have a major impact on overall health. It has been linked in recent research to many different conditions including heart disease.
When I started looking for help for you, Roanoke’s Bradley Free Clinic, Executive Director Estelle Avner told me, “We will be happy to sit down with them and take a look at their financial situation.”
What about the other 50 percent of Virginians who according to the Virginia Health Care Foundation don’t have dental insurance? I decided I would be doing them a disservice if I didn’t try to find the closest resources for people in all parts of Southwest and Central Virginia.
Debbie Oswalt with VHCF says, “Many people when they are trying to make choices about how to spend limited resources don’t choose the dentist until they feel pain.”
The VHCF has made it their mission to find affordable dental care for all Virginians and has about 71 communities that have what are called “Dental Safety Net Providers.”
But, Oswalt says the need is so great that each of those offices is overwhelmed. However, it is at least a starting point for people who feel like they have no place else to turn.
Here is the On Your Side information about who you can call in your area to try to get dental care in your community.
The VHCF phone number is (804) 828-5804.
Link to a list of all of the Dental Safety Net Providers in Virginia.
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