Pocono News Section

Free Dental Clinic Opens in Clinton County

Free Dental Clinic Opens in Clinton County - Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 5:00PM EST

Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Tuesday, Oct 6, 2009 @ 05:00pm EDT
Lock Haven, Clinton County-

Smiles are getting a little brighter in one part of our area. It's all thanks to a new free dental clinic that opened Tuesday in Clinton County.

For the five years Stephanie Hill has lived in Lock Haven, she's been unable to find a dentist that would accept her Medical Access card.

That all changed with the opening of the Clinton County Community Dental Clinic.

Hill said, "Well, it was fast, easy, and very friendly. I was taken in on time. Everything was explained to me. And everyone here was very professional and very nice."

Word of the clinic's opening garnered a huge response in the community.

Project Manager Laurie Welch, of Clinton County Healthy Communities, explained, "We started advertising the phone number about two weeks ago and we've had over 400 phone calls."

Officials estimate 14,000 people in Clinton County either don't have insurance, or rely on Medical Access, which Welch says isn't accepted at other dentist's offices in the area.

The new clinic has been in the works for about two years now.

Dentists and hygienists are volunteering their time, and much of the equipment has been donated. A $200,000 state grant also provided a needed shot in the arm.

The next goal is to ensure the clinic remains sustainable.

Welch noted, "Berwick has a wonderful clinic and they offered wonderful support and advice and technical assistance. So they've been helping us along and they've been existence for seven years, so we're kind of following their model. So we hope to be around many years from now."

The clinic operates two days a week now, and will eventually be open four days a week to serve residents of Clinton County.

Hill added, "It's convenient, it's right downtown, easy parking, and easy access."

The clinic is located at 218 North Grove Street in Lock Haven. Beginning in about two weeks, it will be open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8-4, Thursdays from 8-12, and Fridays from 10-2.

You can reach the Clinton County Community Dental Clinic at 570-748-6450.