Following a six-month expansion project, the Augusta Regional Dental Clinic in Fishersville is ready to serve additional people in need in the community.
A ribbon cutting will be held Thursday at 12:30 p.m. at the clinic to celebrate the new space.
The facility now includes 12 state-of-the-art dental operatories and will allow the clinic to treat up to 80 patients per day.
The clinic expects to serve approximately 8,000 patients in 2024. Last year, the clinic served nearly 5,500 patients.
“We are proud to open our doors to an even greater number of neighbors” said Sophie Parson, ARDC Executive Director. “Unfortunately, the demand for affordable dental care in our community shows no sign of slowing down.”
The renovation project focused on expanded capacity as well as accessibility. With the expansion, the clinic is now welcoming new patients with Medicaid benefits or no insurance.
“We are receiving dozens of calls every day from local residents wishing to establish care with us,” said Parson. “It is such a relief to be able to now say ‘yes.’”
Dental clinic hopes to be ‘real dental home’ to patients with disabilities
In 2023, the ARDC joined a statewide pilot project led by the Delta Dental Foundation of Virginia and the Virginia Department of Health. The goal was to increase access to affordable dental care for patients with physical and developmental disabilities. Currently only 60 percent of Virginians with disabilities have access to a dental provider on a regular basis. ranking last in the country.
“We are talking about the most vulnerable of the most vulnerable of our neighbors, ” said Parson. “Patients living with autism, cerebral palsy, dementia, etc. These patients face incredible barriers when trying to access care and dental care in particular.”
As part of the pilot project, the ARDC received training at New York University’s Oral Health Center for People with Disabilities and funding from VDH and Delta Dental Foundation.
“We also adapted our whole culture and approach to care for our patients with disabilities,” said Misty Ladd, ARDC director of operations. “From our front desk to our clinical staff, everyone has stepped up to better understand our patients with special health care needs and find ways to be a real dental home for them and their families.”
ARDC is the first free clinic to receive the Center for Inclusive Dentistry accreditation in Virginia.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (540) 221-6635 or visit augustaregionaldentalclinic.org
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Crystal Graham
