News Release
More than 1,200 Low-Income Residents Receive Care at Dental School's "MICHIGAN ORAL HEALTH DAY"
When times get tough and people lose their jobs, preventive dental care seems to be one of the first things they eliminate. A a result, many people suffer from acute dental problems, some of which can be life threatening.
Over 440 adults in need received basic dental services such as fillings, extractions and minor denture repairs. Many of these adults could not otherwise afford dental care. Over 1,500 procedures were performed, valued at more than $150,000 in free dental care. Along with the services, the clinic also provided oral health education for adults that attended.
UDM's College of Health Professions provided blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol screenings. Patients also received 164 free prescriptions from Walmart pharmacy. By 9 a.m., the event had attracted over 1000 people interested in receiving dental services. In addition to the 440 people seen, over 250 vouchers for care were provided to those who had waited in line but could not be seen that afternoon, due to the overwhelming response.
The focus of the event was to:
- Provide free access to immediate care for treatment of dental infections or pain.
- Raise public awareness of the increasing difficulty low-income adults face in accessing critical dental care.
- Increase awareness of the importance of oral health to maintaining body health; tooth infections and periodontal disease have been associated with premature birth, increased complications of diabetes, heart disease, increase risk of pneumonia in the elderly, and death.
- Challenge Medicaid, the public, policy makers, and dental professionals to work together to improve the oral health of those who are underinsured or uninsured.
The event was part of Governor Granholm¹s oral health initiative announced during her annual State of the State Address. "We were extremely pleased so many dental professionals in our area, came together to volunteer their time and talents for those in need," said Dr. Mert N. Aksu, Dean of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry and Clinic.
Through his strong leadership, he began a number of activities to further the mission of UDM and the school such as this event. Aksu was the founding chairperson of the Department of Patient Management, enhanced community outreach opportunities, and fostered an environment of patient care, based on acomprehensive care model. This event was coordinated by Dr. Vinod Miriyala, director of Community Outreach and Multicultural Affairs at the School of Dentistry.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm called for the Michigan Day of Oral Health Outreach in her 2009 State of the State address to mobilize volunteer dentists, hygienists and other health professionals to provide free access to dental care services and oral health care education and prevention services to low-income, uninsured and underinsured adults with immediate dental care needs.
Granholm and Aksu thanked the volunteers for making it happen at the event.
Release date: May 19, 2009
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