Maryland Private Practice Reaches Out to Veterans in Need of Dental Care
A dental assistant, Emily Fleming, CDA, at Patuxent Dental, a private practice in Hollywood, Maryland, whose husband and father had served in the military, shared with the staff that veterans often had difficulty accessing oral healthcare services.
A dental assistant, Emily Fleming, CDA, at Patuxent Dental, a private practice in Hollywood, Maryland, whose husband and father had served in the military, shared with the staff that veterans often had difficulty accessing oral healthcare services. This set a plan into action and in November 2019, the practice offered its first free veterans clinic. During that event, Patuxent Dental served 38 veterans, providing $35,000 worth of free dental care.
As the first event was such a succes, the staff decided to make it an annual event, and then the pandemic hit. However, the dental team at Patuxent Dental was dedicated to helping the nation’s veterans and they hosted another day of free dental services for 41 patients, giving away $28,000 worth of dental treatment. In 2021, the event provided $31,000 of free dental treatment to 40 veteran patients.
Local veterans are able to receive comprehensive oral exams, digital Xrays, periodontal charting, general prophylaxis, scaling and root planing, topical fluoride treatments, fillings, crowns, bridge work, extractions, and impressions for denture fabrication. Now organized by Kristen Pierce, BSDH, RDH, and Shannon Wince, RDH, the 2022 annual day of free dental care for local veterans will be held on November 12 at Patuxent Dental.
From Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. August 2022; 20(8)8.
