The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned about a FREE Dental Clinic, open to those in need of dental care, Friday July 28 and Saturday July 29 at the A.J. Palumbo Center in Uptown.
Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh will deploy hundreds of volunteer dental clinicians, nurses, pharmacists, and general volunteers who will assist with dental diagnoses, basic restorative fillings, tooth extractions, and cleanings at no charge to adults and children above age 2. Oral Cancer screenings will also be provided.
There is no preregistration needed. There are no income or eligibility requirements. Registration is first-come, first-serve, beginning at 6 a.m. each day.
The event is hosted by Face2FaceHealing, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit, co-founded by Karen Scuilli, RN, MSN, MBA and Daniel Pituch, DMD, MD.
“The connection between dental health and overall health is significant,” said Dr. Pituch in a release promoting the event. “Poor dental health can tax the immune system, and can lead to cardiovascular disease because of the inflammation and infections oral bacteria can cause. Periodontitis has been linked to premature birth and low birth weight, and poor dental health causes pain, discomfort and embarrassment for the individual affected. Despite this, statistics tell us that 47percent of people in need of dental care have never seen a dentist.”
Dr. Pituch continued, “Many of those who will be served are from working families who do not have access to dental care or cannot afford dental insurance. Mission of Mercy dental clinic can be life-changing for patients, especially the homeless, the working poor, women in shelters, and children whose families do not have the means to see a dentist. By providing care, we help underserved patients move on to a better chapter in their lives.”
Poor dental care in children is particularly prevalent. While CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) guarantees dental coverage for millions of low-income children, not all providers will accept CHIP or Medicaid. One in five children have untreated dental cavities, making tooth decay the number one health issue among U.S. youth.
“Lack of care often drives individuals to emergency rooms when pain becomes unbearable,” said Dr. Richard Celko of UPMC Health Plan. “Because ERs are not equipped to provide traditional dental care, they can often only issue medication and referrals. The cost of a dental ER visit is three times as much as a routine dental visit and the patient leaves with no change to the condition that drove them to seek emergency care.”
For more information on this event, visit www.mompgh.org. To become a volunteer for this event, please also visit www.mompgh.org. The deadline is July 24.
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