Monday, July 12, 2004
Charity organizations work to address dental care needs
[Karen Shideler, "Filling a need," The Wichita Eagle, 12 July 2004.]
Concerned Kansans are working to make sure that their fellow residents receive the dental care they need:
In ways both small and large, efforts are under way to increase access to dental care for Kansans who can't afford it. Through Healthy Options for Planeview's dental program, 50 families are getting low-cost care this year. And through the Kansas Mission of Mercy, 2,000 or more will get free care early next year.
The first families in Healthy Options for Planeview's Healthy Parents, Smart Kids program are getting to dentists now, some for the first time in their lives. Fifty families will be helped in each of the next three years.
Participants pay 20 percent of the cost -- up to $150. They must participate in the Healthy Options for Planeview Moms and Mentors program and dental education classes.
On a much larger scale, the Kansas Mission of Mercy -- a massive effort in which volunteer dentists descend on a town for three days to provide as many free fillings, cleanings and extractions as they can -- will be in Salina in February and in Wichita the following year.
Wichita dentist Jon Tilton said the fourth and fifth Missions of Mercy will be similar to the first three, which have provided care to more than 2,000 people each. The Salina project will be Feb. 18-20, 2005; Wichita's will be Feb. 17-19, 2006.
Dentists already are accepting contributions and working on arrangements for both efforts, which will involve hundreds of volunteers from across the state.
The dental arm of Wichita's Project Access has helped 146 people with emergency dental problems since October. It helps low-income, uninsured people who are referred from hospital emergency rooms.
The United Methodist Health Ministry Fund recently awarded more grants for projects designed to improve oral health.
Most of the latest grants are for educational efforts. But one, to Cottonwood Inc. in Lawrence, will provide for a part-time dental clinic for people with developmental disabilities.
Hunter Health Clinic's dental clinic and the Sedgwick County Health Department's children's clinic continue to help others who need dental care.
[Karen Shideler, "Filling a need," The Wichita Eagle, 12 July 2004.]
Concerned Kansans are working to make sure that their fellow residents receive the dental care they need:
In ways both small and large, efforts are under way to increase access to dental care for Kansans who can't afford it. Through Healthy Options for Planeview's dental program, 50 families are getting low-cost care this year. And through the Kansas Mission of Mercy, 2,000 or more will get free care early next year.
The first families in Healthy Options for Planeview's Healthy Parents, Smart Kids program are getting to dentists now, some for the first time in their lives. Fifty families will be helped in each of the next three years.
Participants pay 20 percent of the cost -- up to $150. They must participate in the Healthy Options for Planeview Moms and Mentors program and dental education classes.
On a much larger scale, the Kansas Mission of Mercy -- a massive effort in which volunteer dentists descend on a town for three days to provide as many free fillings, cleanings and extractions as they can -- will be in Salina in February and in Wichita the following year.
Wichita dentist Jon Tilton said the fourth and fifth Missions of Mercy will be similar to the first three, which have provided care to more than 2,000 people each. The Salina project will be Feb. 18-20, 2005; Wichita's will be Feb. 17-19, 2006.
Dentists already are accepting contributions and working on arrangements for both efforts, which will involve hundreds of volunteers from across the state.
The dental arm of Wichita's Project Access has helped 146 people with emergency dental problems since October. It helps low-income, uninsured people who are referred from hospital emergency rooms.
The United Methodist Health Ministry Fund recently awarded more grants for projects designed to improve oral health.
Most of the latest grants are for educational efforts. But one, to Cottonwood Inc. in Lawrence, will provide for a part-time dental clinic for people with developmental disabilities.
Hunter Health Clinic's dental clinic and the Sedgwick County Health Department's children's clinic continue to help others who need dental care.
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