Father Joe’s Villages to expand dental care thanks to grant
A dentist examines a dental X-ray File photo courtesy Gary and Mary West Senior Dental Center Father Joe s Villages San Diego s largest provider of services to unsheltered people will be able to expand dental care thanks to a grant from the Delta Dental District Care Foundation The nonprofit now will be able to provide dentures and services to senior citizens This grant represents an extraordinary step in our efforts to provide dental care for our the majority vulnerable communities announced Dr Megan Partch chief soundness officer at Father Joe s Villages Because of the help of organizations like Delta Dental we can provide quality dental care for those who otherwise may not be able to afford it Even before the grant disclosed Thursday Father Joe s dental clinic provided services to hundreds of homeless patients every year including teeth cleanings fillings crowns root canals extractions and partial or complete dentures Imperial Avenue The clinic is located within the nonprofit s Village Wellness Center on th St and Imperial Ave in East Village The healthcare center also provides primary care psychiatry and behavioral healthcare services including outpatient substance-use disorder healing according to a report from Father Joe s It offers walk-in appointments and dental emergencies can often be treated the same day The majority of adults experiencing homelessness have important untreated dental problems and studies indicate that homeless individuals are significantly more likely to have dental issues compared to the general population the declaration Father Joe s stated Without access to dental care selected people lose the ability to find work struggle to eat solid food and suffer from pain and chronic condition caused by poor dental wellbeing The Delta Dental Region Care Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental of California and affiliated companies Since the foundation has awarded more than million to increase access to dental care and to advance scientific research across the its -state provision area and Washington D C
