This past Friday, April 3rd, excitement and anticipation was in the air as health providers, advocates, funders, consumers, the Administration and lawmakers gathered at the Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) to see the opening of the Springfield Community Dental Clinic. (photos here; WWLP video below)
The day’s event began with a reception introducing representatives from groups who helped make this effort possible. Speakers included Frank Robinson, Executive Director of Partners for a Healthier Community, Ralph Fuccillo, President of the DentaQuest Foundation, Domenic Sarno, Mayor of Springfield, and Representative John Scibak (D-Hadley). Speakers talked about how the new clinic will improve access to dental care for an estimated 10,000 families in Springfield and expressed their gratitude to the Western Massachusetts Hospital, who will be operating the clinic 5 days a week. The reception ended with a ribbon cutting to announce the opening of the dental clinic and a tour of the five dental chair facility.
We know that dental decay is the most common chronic childhood disease. Caused by a bacterial infection in the mouth, dental decay can interfere with life’s most basic functions, such as eating, talking and sleeping. 51 million school and 164 million work hours are lost nationally each year due to dental disease. These lost school and work hours mean lost opportunities for our children and families. Kids with dental disease often reach adulthood with the disease, where the health consequences become even more serious. Dental disease is associated with stroke, diabetes and lung disease. By opening the Springfield Community Dental Clinic, Springfield has made a commitment to prevent dental disease and to keep the next generation healthy.
The new Springfield dental clinic was generously funded by the DentaQuest Foundation (formerly known as The Oral Health Foundation) and will also serve as a clinical site for STCC Dental Assistant students.
For any questions about the Springfield Community Dental Clinic, you may contact Partners for a Healthier Community at (413) 794-7739. To help improve oral health in your community, visit the Watch Your Mouth Campaign’s website at www.WatchYourMouth.org or contact us at 1-866-WYMouth (1-866-996-6884).
Czarina Biton
