WHEELING, W.Va. — Wheeling Health Right has expanded its dental care capabilities with the addition of a brand-new dental suite at its headquarters, located at 61 29th Street. The updated facility is expected to significantly reduce the clinic’s backlog, which currently includes more than 200 patients awaiting dental treatment.
According to Executive Director Anne Ricci, the new suite was created by repurposing and renovating existing space within the clinic. This addition marks the final phase of a broader dental expansion project that began in 2023. The initiative has effectively doubled the number of dental suites from two to four.
The fourth operatory is outfitted with modern equipment, including a high-tech dental chair, new cabinetry, and essential tools and supplies designed to enhance care delivery.
Ricci emphasized the critical role oral health plays in overall well-being. “Dental care truly transforms lives,” she said. “Oral health directly impacts nutrition, chronic disease management, employability, and self-confidence.”
Beyond routine cleanings and extractions, the clinic’s dental services now include more complex and time-sensitive procedures, such as restorative treatments and denture fittings.
Wheeling Health Right serves more than 27,000 uninsured and underinsured individuals across the Upper Ohio Valley. Many of the clinic’s patients work multiple part-time jobs and rely on the clinic for affordable health care, Ricci noted.
“Our dental program began in 2016, and it quickly became one of our most in-demand services,” she said. “By adding this new operatory, we can expand our reach and care for even more patients.”
The dental suite expansion was made possible through funding from the Highmark West Virginia Charitable Fund for Health and the Encova Foundation of West Virginia.
