A nonprofit dental clinic in Sunbury is changing lives in its own unique way while rapidly expanding its services, but funding is a pressing issue.
Susquehanna Valley Dental Clinic has grown from just four dental chairs in 2009 to a three-story, 14-chair facility.
The clinic provides comprehensive dental care to more than 15,000 Medicaid and low-income uninsured patients each year.
Karen Vines, clinic manager, says the value of the clinic’s services goes far beyond basic treatments like routine cleanings and fillings. “Studies show that oral health is closely linked to overall health,” she adds.
Oral bacteria from caries and periodontal disease can affect not only the mouth, but also systemic diseases such as heart disease. The clinic educates patients about oral health during every visit to help them improve their overall health.
Vines recalls a patient whose cheek lesions were discovered by the clinic’s doctors and suspected to be oral cancer. The clinic quickly contacted an oral surgeon, and the patient received emergency examination and treatment that day.
After tumor removal, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation, the patient recovered and returned to the clinic 18 months later.
However, the successful operation of the clinic is highly dependent on charitable donations to make up for the funding gap caused by insufficient Medicaid reimbursement.
Medicaid reimbursement is only one-third of private insurance reimbursement, and the clinic charges low-income patients very low fees, only $100 per treatment, resulting in huge financial pressure.
Despite the financial challenges, Susquehanna Valley Dental Clinic still insists on providing necessary oral medical services to vulnerable groups and strives to improve the overall health of the community.