A dentist examines a dental X-ray. (File photo courtesy Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center)
Father Joe’s Villages, San Diego’s largest provider of services to unsheltered people, will be able to expand dental care thanks to a $150,000 grant from the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation.
The nonprofit now will be able to provide dentures and services to senior citizens.
“This grant represents an extraordinary step in our efforts to provide dental care for our most vulnerable communities,” said Dr. Megan Partch, chief health officer at Father Joe’s Villages. “Because of the support of organizations like Delta Dental, we can provide quality dental care for those who otherwise may not be able to afford it.”
Even before the grant, announced Thursday, Father Joe’s dental clinic provided services to hundreds of homeless patients every year, including teeth cleanings, fillings, crowns, root canals, extractions and partial or complete dentures.
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The clinic is located within the nonprofit’s Village Health Center, on 16th St. and Imperial Ave. in East Village.
The health center also provides primary care, psychiatry and behavioral health services including outpatient substance-use disorder treatment, according to a statement from Father Joe’s. It offers walk-in appointments and dental emergencies can often be treated the same day.
“The majority of adults experiencing homelessness have significant, untreated dental problems, and studies indicate that homeless individuals are significantly more likely to have dental issues compared to the general population,” the statement Father Joe’s said.
Without access to dental care, some people lose the ability to find work, struggle to eat solid food and suffer from pain and chronic disease caused by poor dental health.
The Delta Dental Community Care Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental of California and affiliated companies. Since 2011, the foundation has awarded more than $150 million to increase access to dental care and to advance scientific research across the its 15-state service area and Washington, D.C.