The Central Washington Oral Health Foundation is bringing its free dental clinic back to the Yakima Valley for the second year.
The clinic will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., July 11 to 13, at the Yakama Nation Community Center, located at 600 N. Meyers Road. It is open to people of all ages who need dental care.
“There is a big need and lack of dental services in our county,” said Mary Anne Walker, the foundation’s director and outreach coordinator.
Services offered include fillings, extractions, teeth cleaning, haircuts, showers, and blood pressure checks. All services will be given on a first-come, first-served basis.
Dental care is provided by volunteer local dentists, University of Washington dental students and faculty, and dentists who travel from out of state.
Yakama Nation Behavioral Health will also be on site to offer support and resources for people struggling with addiction.
Last year, people traveled from nearby counties, including the Tri-Cities and Ellensburg, to receive care at the clinic, Walker said.
The foundation treated 267 people but had to turn away nearly 100 because of the high demand and limited time.
“We don’t start seeing patients until 9 a.m.,” Walker said. “But last year, people were lined up by 7 a.m.”
The Central Washington Oral Health Foundation has served Yakima County since 1999. It also manages the Access to Baby & Child Dentistry program, which connects low-income children ages 0 to 5 with dentists trained to care for young patients.
The free dental clinic began after Walker saw the strong need for dental care among adults and children in the Yakima Valley.
While the foundation received a grant last year, this year most of the clinic’s costs are paid out of pocket. The clinic costs more than $10,000 to run.
Walker said the clinic’s future beyond this year remains uncertain.