By Lisa Carolin
The Livingston Community News
It's been just a bit more than two months since the VINA (Vision, Integrity, Need, Action) Community Dental Center opened to offer affordable dental care to residents without dental insurance.
The demand for services grows daily.
"There are a lot of people who need us," explains office manager Cindy Gates, who is the only employee of the Brighton clinic. "There is clearly a high need in Livingston County for affordable dental care."
Gates says the office is working with a call list of dentists who volunteer their time based on availability. Clients who meet the criteria are placed on the list on a first-come, first-served basis.
Currently there are 11 dentists volunteering at the clinic along with eight dental hygienists and 10 dental assistants.
"We could still use more dentists as well as monetary donations," says Gates, who adds that some of the volunteer dentists include periodontists and oral surgeons. "If someone needs more than we can offer, we direct them to the University of Michigan Dental Clinic in Ann Arbor. We are seeing people from all over Livingston County and all ages from 18 and above."
The clinic does not see children because there are a number of dentists in the county who participate with the Healthy Kids program through the Department of Human Services.
"We're getting a darn good response, and people are deeply appreciative," says volunteer dentist Dr. Harry Davis. "Our patients have just been clobbered. They've lost jobs and lost their dental insurance, and many have just skipped going to the dentist."
Davis says that because of the lack of regular dental care, they're seeing patients with severe gum decay and periodontal disease, and many who are in pain.
"We do the best we can to save teeth and eliminate pain," says Davis. "We fill teeth, extract teeth, clean teeth and educate people about brushing and dietary control to try to help them help themselves."
"What's surprising is that demographically who we are treating has turned out to be the working poor," says volunteer dentist and oral surgeon Fred Bonine. He also is the fundraising chairman for the clinic.
"Chronic neglect is a huge problem, as well as a lack of information such as the fact that soda pop can destroy peoples' mouths," he says.
Bonine says the clinic's goals are to expand its hours, increase the number of volunteers, and to continue to raise money. The clinic will have a major fundraiser in February.
A Valentines Ball is planned for Feb. 14, 2009, at Lakeland Country Club, "which we hope will be an annual event," says Jana Walther, who is on the clinic's fundraising committee.
Walther says the clinic needs donations to continue to operate and has been helped by grants from Blue Cross Blue Shield, Delta Dental, and the Michigan Dental Foundation.
The clinic now has liaisons with dental schools at the U-M and the University of Detroit, both of which will be sending dental students and faculty to volunteer at the clinic.
The purpose of the VINA Community Dental Clinic is to provide service for Livingston County residents who have no dental insurance and have an income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The clinic offers exams, cleanings and fillings as well as services for pain and infection, oral cancer screenings, and dental and general health education materials.
Lisa Carolin can be reached at lcarolin@livingstoncommunitynews.com or at 810-844-2010.
