FREE CLINIC OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA QUINTUPLES AVAILABLE DENTAL SERVICES

LYNCHBURG, Va. - October 22, 2004 - The Free Clinic of Central Virginia is now treating five times as many dental patients as before, thanks to fourth-year dental students from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry, undergraduate dental hygiene students from Virginia Commonwealth University, and volunteer dentists from the Central Virginia area.

Funding from Delta Dental Plan of Virginia and the Virginia Health Care Foundation has made it possible for the Clinic to offer these expanded services.

Dental students and hygiene students, under the guidance of supervising dentists, work Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays to help patients who need dental care. "Fewer people have dental insurance," said Robert Barlow, executive director at the Clinic. "There is a great need for dental care. People with chronic diseases and those with diabetes are prone to tooth decay. Many people who have cancer must have their teeth fixed before they can begin treatment."
I remember one young woman about 24 who was born with two sets of teeth. A volunteer dentist and dental assistant worked with her to extract the extra teeth. People are so receptive, so thankful. Often, they haven't seen a dentist in years and come to the Clinic with a painful emergency."

"Delta Dental has made donations to the Free Clinic of Central Virginia and the Bradley Free Clinic this year as part of our commitment to improve access to dental care for all Virginians," said George Levicki, DDS, President and CEO of Delta Dental Plan of Virginia. "We also provide financial support for low income children who need dental care."

Ron Hunt, DDS, dean of the school of dentistry at Virginia Commonwealth University, said this is the second year VCU students are working with the Clinic. "We wanted to provide our fourth-year dental and dental hygiene students with experiences working with underserved Virginians in real-world situations away from the campus environment. It's the perfect way to expand the clinical experience that students receive, while helping address the problem many Virginians have in gaining access to the dental care they need. It would not have been possible to begin these programs without the generous support of community partners such as Delta Dental Plan of Virginia."

"Students like to give back to the state, and these types of programs are woven into their curriculum," said Janet Scharer, Director of the Outreach and Extramural Programs at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry. "They participate in several community clinics, providing services that are needed and working with local dentists. It gives them great experience outside of dental school, practicing what they are learning while being supervised. It helps them gain confidence."

"Students can perform fillings, extractions, cleanings, and deliver oral health education," she said. "They are only limited by what the clinic can support and typically do not do crowns, bridges or implants," she said.

"The students have been great - they're ready to work and very excited," Barlow said.

Barlow said he is pleased with the three operative stations at the Clinic, but is always looking for new hand pieces, operative instruments and new restorative supplies. "It had been hard to turn down so many people," he said. "It's hard to choose who needs dental care the most. Now, we are helping more people."

Who's eligible? The Clinic serves adults over 18 - children are typically covered by Medicaid and can participate at a Clinic administered by Lynchburg Health Department. Patients must meet the following criteria: income less than 150 percent of the Federal Poverty level; a resident of the city of Lynchburg, or Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Campbell or southern Nelson County not covered by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance. Most clients are working, looking for work, just released from incarceration or were recently laid off.

The Clinic provides for working people and their families who are uninsured or underinsured and can't afford private care; people who work in seasonal and part-time jobs; people who are attempting to become self-sufficient while getting off welfare; people who are residents at the Gateway, the Salvation Army, Miriam's House, YWCA or other shelters.
The Clinic will celebrate its 17th anniversary this year. In addition to dental services, the Clinic also offers a full range of primary medical care. Patients who need more information should call (434) 847-5866. The Free Clinic of Central Virginia is located at 1016 Main Street, Lynchburg, Va., 24504 and a maintains a website at www.fccv.net.

Delta Dental Plan of Virginia was established by the General Assembly in l964 to improve the oral heath of Virginians. Delta provides pre-paid dental benefits to more than 1,000,000 subscribers through a network of more than 2,500 dentists in Virginia.