Community Dental Clinic’s ribbon ceremony for their new facility. Photo by Leah Burdick
Having no dental treatment can cause cavities and tooth abscesses, also known as bacterial infections. Lack of dental care can cause future health concerns and other complications. But dentist can be expensive. However, this nonprofit clinic provides no-cost dental care to Pinellas residents who qualify.
Recently, about 100 supporters attended the opening of the Community Dental Clinic’s new facility in Clearwater. The new clinic is nearly double the size of its previous location and caters to low-income adults in Pinellas.
It will provide patients with exams, x-rays, cleanings, extractions, fillings, and more. Theresa White is the executive director of the Community Dental Clinic.
To become a patient and receive free dental care, one must be 18 years or older, have no dental insurance, and be at or below the 200% poverty level.
Theresa White is the executive director of the Community Dental Clinic. She said Florida is ranked 47th in the nation for dental access.
“Our goal is to get the mouth healthy again, so that patients don’t have to have any decay or have any abscesses, which can make them end up in the ER,” White said.
Treatment room #8 will be a new addition to the clinic. Photo by Leah Burdick
One of the new dental rooms at the facility. Photo by Leah Burdick
Photos from the first day of breaking ground on the new facility. Photo by Leah Burdick
Dental equipment for x-rays with photos from real patients. Photo by Leah Burdick
Community Dental clinic mission statement at the entrance. Photo by Leah Burdick
The donation stand shares where the donation money will go towards. Photo by Leah Burdick
Ribbon cut ceremony for the new clinic. Photo by Leah Burdick
Educational table with real life photos of patients who been treated. Photo by Leah Burdick
Dental exam room with new equipment to provide care for patients. Photo by Leah Burdick
She said emergency rooms do not have the equipment to help patients who get to this point, thats what they want to try and prevent.
“For the low-income adults in Pinellas County, almost 37% of them are eligible for our clinic just by income alone,” White said.
One resident was fearful of going to the dentist after seeing prices and learning about the process he would have to go through to get his teeth restored.
“When I was in the military, an accident happened where I was exposed to an agent, and it gradually started tearing at the enamel in my teeth, and I didn’t know what to do,” Dorian Underwood said. “I let it go because there was no help for me. I had no possible income at this time to go through the whole process.”
He said his coworkers shared his story with the Community Dental Clinic, where he later received treatment. The cost of his treatment was $0.
Last year, the clinic provided $2.3 million in free services, and they plan to help more residents with this expansion.
