BRATTLEBORO — On May 5, the United Way of Windham County joined forces with local dentists and oral surgeons to fight dental disease by providing a Free Adult Dental Care Day for Windham County residents.
Dental professionals worked a combined 689 hours in one day; nonmedical volunteer time totaled more than 60 hours. Value of the care provided topped $90,000.
Overall, 166 patients received dental treatments including 17 cleanings, 89 fillings, 138 extractions, and 149 X-rays.
One uninsured patient who declined to be named said, “I haven't been to a dentist not only because of the cost, but also I'm pretty ashamed of my teeth and almost feel there is no hope at this point.”
Volunteer dentists and oral surgeons included Drs. Peter Albanese, Louis Beaudette, Christopher Blount, Vincent Capasso, Dwight Decker, Patrick Edmunds, Jacqueline Fellows, Fadi Hawwash, Thomas Heydinger, Yossri Kairlis, Terry Kauffman, David Neumeister, Jared Rediske, Robert Ruhl, Roy Schonbrun, Michael Shafer, Gerald Theberge, Jeffrey Wallace, Suzanne West, and Janet Zinter.
The Free Adult Dental Care Day began in 2008, with Dr. John-Michael Stewart of Bennington Oral-Facial Surgery Associates and Drs. Louis Beaudette and Robert S. Ruhl, of Wilmington, Vermont. It has run for five consecutive years. This year the event took place across Southern Vermont with providers participating in Rutland, Manchester, Bennington, Wilmington, and Brattleboro.
Statewide, programs provided care for 525 people, with Windham County providing 32 percent of total care received.
United Way of Windham County's dental day program is a model for a future Orange County program. Dentists from Orange County came to Brattleboro to observe, and ended up working on patients. One dentist commented that Vermont residents most in need of dental services are those who can't pay.
Financial support came from Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Vermont Dental Hygienists Association, Northeast Delta Dental Foundation, Brattleboro Sunrise Rotary, Keene Orthodontic Specialists, and Deerfield Valley Rotary.
In-kind donations were provided by Rescue Inc., Leader Distribution, Vermont Country Deli, Gouger's Market, C & S Wholesale Grocers, Crystal Rock Water, Brattleboro Retreat, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, and WTSA radio. The Brattleboro Elks provided the venue and support for the event.
Those who want to help at future clinics may contact the United Way at 802-257-4011, ext. 110, or visit www.unitedwaywindham.org.