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Central Washington Oral Health Foundation’s free dental clinic is returning to the Yakima Valley for the second year.
The free clinic and health screenings are planned from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., July 11-13, at the Yakama Nation Community Center, 600 N. Meyers Road. It’s for people of all ages who are in need.
“There’s a big need and lack of service for dental services in our county,” said Mary Anne Walker, director and outreach coordinator for the Central Washington Oral Health Foundation.
Services including fillings, extractions, teeth cleaning, haircuts, showers and blood pressure checks will be provided on a first come, first served basis.
Dental care is provided as a volunteer service from local providers, University of Washington dental students, UW faculty and dentists who travel from out of state.
Yakama Nation Behavioral Health will be on site to provide resources for people struggling with addiction.
Last year, people from neighboring counties, from the Tri-Cities to Ellensburg, traveled to the Yakima Valley for dental care and health screening services, Walker said.
The oral health foundation was able to treat 267 people, but had to turn away around 100 people because there was so much community need and not enough time.
“We don’t start seeing patients ’till 9 o’clock,” Walker said. “But last year, there were people lined up at 7 o’clock in the morning.”
For more information, contact Walker by phone at 509-945-6695.
The oral health foundation has been in Yakima County since 1999. It also manages and supports the Access to Baby & Child Dentistry program in Yakima County. The statewide program connects children ages 0-5 from low-income families with dentists who know how to care for them.
The free dental clinic started after Walker noticed the significant need for dental care from Yakima Valley adults, as well as children.
While the foundation received a grant last year, most of this year’s costs are coming out of pocket, Walker said. It costs well over $10,000 to put on a clinic.
Walker said the future of the clinic after this year is unknown.
Any tips should be sent directly to Alexander Banks through email at abanks@yakimaherald.com, or by phone at 509-577-7654.
Alexander Banks’ reporting for the Yakima Herald-Republic is possible with support from Report for America and Yakima community members. For information on republishing, email news@yakimaherald.com. To support local journalism, click here.
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