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When the UK Family Practice Center and residency
programs moved into the new building, an expansion
was made to include a new dental clinic as well, the
UK Family Dental Clinic. Oral health has become the
focus of many national, state, and University
initiatives. The addition of the dental clinic was a
joint project between the Colleges of Medicine and
Dentistry to help address the oral health disparities
which exist in rural Kentucky. The dental program is
a model for regional dental access that will be
replicated in other areas of the state. The location
of the dental clinic adjacent to the family practice
clinic provides a unique, multi-disciplinary approach
to oral health. Additionally, family practice
residents are trained in diagnosing and treating oral
health issues. |
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The dental program serves patients of all ages, from
all segments of the community, and also offers a
sliding fee scale for services. The clinic has four
operatories, a sterilization suite, a small
laboratory, and a procedure room which can be
utilized for sedation procedures. It is a
full-service dental clinic with a full-time dentist,
a full-time hygienist and dental assistant, and it
serves as the rotation site for general practice
dental residents from the University of Kentucky
College of Dentistry. Soon, pediatric dental
residents will also rotate to Hazard as well. Sample
services include preventive care and education,
cleanings, fluoride treatments, sealants, fillings,
root canals, and extractions as well as dentures,
partials, crowns, bridges, and cosmetic procedures
such as bleaching, bonding, and veneers. The dental
clinic also emphasizes community outreach projects
with local schools, senior citizens centers, and the
East Kentucky Veterans Center. |
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This spring (2005) will also see the addition of a
Ronald McDonald Care Mobile. This new
state-of-the-art mobile dental clinic will have two
operatories and a panoramic x-ray unit on board. It
is fully digital and comes to us as a donation from
the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Bluegrass
at an estimated cost of over $350,000. This mobile
unit will bring full-service dental care to children
in schools, daycare centers, head start programs, and
at health fairs or other community events. It will
treat children ages 0-21 at no cost to the patient.
It has a service area that will include Perry County
and any contiguous county. This addition will improve
access to care for the children of eastern Kentucky.
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