GOSHEN -- Justin Williams lined up with others Wednesday to receive dental care he could actually afford. Because Williams, 22, is an adult but does not attend school, he does not qualify under his mother's insurance. He said he looks for a job daily, but can't afford his own insurance.
"He can't pay a dentist the normal amount because he doesn't make enough," said his mom, Julie Williams. "We're stuck. When you don't make enough money to afford paying a dentist, what do you do?"
Smile Care Indiana offered oral screenings, bitewing X-rays and dental cleanings at a discounted price Tuesday at the Elkhart County Health Department in Elkhart and Wednesday at the Elkhart County Public Services Building in Goshen.
About 50 people throughout the two days made appointments or walked in to see a dentist. Dental exams cost $25, cleanings cost $48 and four bitewing X-rays cost $35, all typically prices cheaper than a private dentist would charge.
The clinic originally was intended for the 130 Elkhart County women enrolled in the Indiana Women's Diabetes Initiative, a pilot program in Elkhart, Howard and Lawrence counties funded by the Indiana State Department of Health.
"We wanted to help these women get to the dentist at least once each year, but they have financial trouble in doing that," said Lisa Boyce of the initiative.
As part of the initiative which runs until August 2010, women set goals to receive an annual foot exam, an annual eye exam, and an annual dental exam. Free foot and eye exams were available already through the initiative.
"There was never anything set up for dental," Boyce said.
The clinic was opened up to men and women of all ages, and most of the people who showed up did not have dental insurance, Boyce said.
Without health insurance, those people find it hard to pay for the proper dental care they need. Boyce tried to contact local dentists to see if they would offer services on a sliding scale to people who were examined this week. No dentists agreed to it, she said. In Elkhart County, only Heart City Health Center in Elkhart offers dental services on a sliding scale according to income.
"It's hard for a dentist to give lower rates because they have to make a living, too," she said.
The program will continue if resident demand affords it. In its first year, the clinic did not go without a hiccup -- the deep cleaning equipment broke Wednesday morning and patients wanting a cleaning were rescheduled for another date, said the Iniative's Diabetes Navigator Monica Brooks.
Walter Sharp Jr. of Elkhart admitted that, even though he is diabetic, he does not visit the dentist as regularly as he should. Part of that reason is the cost of dental care, he said as his son, 24-year-old Devonn Kyle was getting an exam.
"I think the price was pretty good and that's what made me come in," he said of the clinic Wednesday. "I thought it was affordable."
DIABETES INITIATIVE
Women 18 years or older who are diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes qualify for the Indiana Women's Diabetes Initiative.
For more information on the initiative call Monica Brooks at 523-2171.