Byline: Sheila B. Lalwani
Apr. 28--RACINE -- Without dental insurance or money to meet a dentist, Jarrod Alston and the cavity within his mouth were in trouble.
The cavity had rotted much of one of the 25-year-old's teeth, and his mouth was sore and inflamed. Parts of the tooth had chipped off.
All options had escaped him except one: the Health Care Network, 904 State St.
Wednesday was his first visit to a dentist.
'I've met some nice people who've never had dentistry and really needed it,' said James A. Levandoski, a practicing dentist in North Bay and a clinic volunteer.
That's the point behind the Health Care Network's newest effort: Offer free basic dental care to low-income, uninsured people living in Racine County.
The dental clinic, which opened earlier this month, is the only such center in Racine County. It opens in time for Cover the Uninsured Week, which begins Sunday.
'This is really a community effort,' clinic Executive Director Barb Tylenda said Wednesday. 'It's people helping people in Racine County.'
Thirteen area dentists and several hygienists are donating their time to the clinic. The dentists donate one day a month to meet with patients who need a cleaning or help with basic dental hygiene.
Medical professionals aren't the only ones willing to lend a hand for the clinic's success. Contractors helped remodel the inside of the building. Civic groups donated paintings and wall trim to make the office seem warmer.
Area dentists donated an X-ray machine and other dental tools.
Other organizations are helping out with supplies. The Prairie School last week donated tubes of toothpaste, cartons of dental floss and other dental hygiene material.
'There's a civic responsibility being installed in the kids,' Tylenda said.
The dental clinic adds another layer of service to the existing on-site medical clinic, which has been around since 1992.
The clinic schedules nearly 10,000 health care appointments a year.
About 90 percent of the people coming through the clinic's doors are from Racine. The remaining 10 percent are from other parts of the county.
The clinic also has referred patients to dentists around the community who can treat them for discounted fees.
With the state's highest unemployment rate and an increasing number of uninsured, dental coordinator Peg Pier said, the clinic needs the support.
'There is such a big demand out there,' she said. 'I didn't realize it until I started working here.'
BILINGUAL EFFORT
Levandoski had a little trouble his first day volunteering: All his patients spoke Spanish.
Lesson learned: Help dentists learn dental phrases in Spanish.
Alston finished his visit with one less tooth and a lot less pain.
Racine dentist and volunteer Jim Luetzow removed the tooth.
As Alston rose from the patient's chair, he held his hand to his mouth.
It was sore. This was a good sore, though.
'I would recommend this to any person,' Alston said.
Luetzow has practiced in Racine for years and plans to continue volunteering with the clinic.
'It's nice to help out people who need helping out,' he said.
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