MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Monongalia County Health Department has filled up all available spots for free dental care opportunities for county residents who are uninsured as part of their annual Healthy Smiles Day.
MCHD Dentistry will provide free cleanings and checkups for adults 18 years and older who do not have dental insurance on Wednesday, November 26, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. as part of the event that has been traditionally held the day before Thanksgiving since 2019.
Patients who attend will receive a cleaning and checkup, and, if needed, they also might be able to get same-day restorative work performed, depending on the time required and other circumstances. The patients will be treated by licensed dentist Dr. Kayla Courtney, who worked as part of Healthy Smiles Day last year, as well as an extra dentist to help with the caseload and allow for potential restorative work to be offered on a case-by-case basis.
MCHD Dentistry will offer over a dozen different treatment options, being the only full-service dental practice located within a West Virginia health department. Services include cleanings, exams, oral health education, oral cancer screenings, digital X-rays, dental sealants, mouth guards, simple extractions, root canals, bridges, same-day crowns, implants, dentures and partials, custom bleaching trays, cosmetic bonding, porcelain veneers, Invisalign tooth straightening, and Botox for therapeutic (TMJ disorder) and cosmetic uses.
The event was created before Medicaid began providing up to $1,000 annually in dental benefits to adult patients, which has now changed to $2,000 in a two-year period.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 1 in 4 (26%) adults in the United States have untreated tooth decay. Statistics also state that adults who have a low income, have less than a high school education, and are current smokers are two times more likely to have untreated cavities than comparison groups, the CDC states.
“A couple of years ago, we were unsure if the new Medicaid benefit for adult patients would mean fewer patients taking advantage of Healthy Smiles Day, but that was not the case,” said Dr. Youseph Kassar, MCHD Dentistry’s program manager, in a statement released on Friday. “I guess it shows there’s still a need for patients who are being left behind.”
Residents are encouraged to check out the MCHD website for up-to-date information on health and wellness in Monongalia County as well as the official social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.