EDMONDS — A nonprofit will make the first of what is expected to be monthly visits to the Edmonds Senior Center on Friday, providing dental care to low-income patients.
The care is being provided by volunteers for Medical Teams International on its mobile dental van. Seniors and others on fixed incomes often can’t afford to get regular medical checkups, said Ben Vendelin, program manager for Medical Teams International mobile dental program. Medicare doesn’t cover dental check ups and repairs.
“We’re starting on Friday and will do a monthly clinic visits focused primarily on urgent care, such as restorations, extracting teeth that are beyond repair,” he said. Some cleanings and other basic procedures also may be done, he said.
Medical Teams International provides medical help around the globe but also provides domestic disaster assistance and dental services to communities in the United States.
The nonprofit began talks about four months ago with the Edmonds Senior Center to begin providing services. The van makes regular visits to other communities in Snohomish County, including the Everett Gospel Mission’s mens and womens shelters.
Anyone interested in getting dental services through the program should call the Edmonds Senior Center. Many older adults will quality for services at no cost, since many don’t have any dental insurance, said Michelle Burke, program manager at the senior center. “Dental care is so important to overall health,” she said. “We’re so happy to be able to provide that here.”
A waiting list will be kept for those who can’t be seen this week, she said.
“We’ve seen the need for some time,” Burke said. “We finally were able to make all the pieces fit together.”
The Verdant Health Commission, a foundation-like group in Lynnwood, donated $66,000 to help keep the dental program running in south Snohomish County. It also made a one-time donation of $180,000 in December 2014 toward the purchase of a new dental van for Medical Teams International.
Dental care is provided by volunteers who are licensed dentists, hygienists and dental assistants. Volunteers are needed to provide preventive and emergency dental care in Snohomish County. Call 425-284-1958 for information.
Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486; salyer@heraldnet.com.
Appointments
Medical Teams International’s mobile dental van has scheduled the first of its planned monthly visits to the Edmonds Senior Center from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. March 25. The program provides free and low-cost urgent dental care services to low-income Medicare and other patients who don’t have dental insurance. Priority is given to the most urgent needs, such as dental pain, inability to eat and bleeding. The Edmonds Senior Center is at 220 Railroad Ave., just south of the ferry terminal and west of the Amtrak station. Call the Edmonds Senior Center at 425-774-5555 ext. 104 or 108 for information.
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