Seniors dental clinic up and running in Woodstock
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A dental clinic offering free services to low-income seniors is now open and taking patients.
One of two programs housed in the recently opened dental clinic at the Oxford County Community Health Centre, the seniors’ clinic only celebrated its official grand opening on Thursday morning. The clinic offers free preventative and restorative dental care to low-income seniors.
“This project, from the beginning, was the community coming together for a common cause,” said David Smith, program manager for Southwestern public health. “(Southwestern Public Health and the Oxford County Community Health Centre) share a common vision around helping individuals in need.”
The seniors dental clinic offers free dental care two days a week – Monday and Tuesday – to eligible seniors through a program announced by the provincial government last spring. That’s when conversations began with the community health centre around partnering in a common space, Smith said.
Jennifer Vandermeer, a spokesperson for MPP Ernie Hardeman, said Hardeman was thrilled to see the seniors’ dental program offered at a community clinic.
“I can tell you from personal experience that seniors are already enjoying the services at this clinic,” Vandermeer said.
The program provides free care to seniors 65 and older without any other form of dental care, and who have an individual income of less than $19,300 per year or $32,300 per year as a couple. It provides a range of preventative care, such as cleanings and scalings, as well as X-rays, oral surgeries and restorative procedures such as fillings.
“We are really hoping what this brings is an opportunity for seniors to smile more confidently, to be out of pain and to really embrace health care in a different way,” said Jaime Fletcher, a school health program manager for the public health agency.
“This is a population we are so pleased to serve, and there is no better place than this welcoming environment of the Oxford County Community Health Centre.”
Find more information about the Ontario Seniors Dental Care program at swpublichealth.ca or by calling 1-800-922-0096 ext. 3510.
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