Kiwanis will take on dental clinic

After nearly a year, the dream of starting the Sisters Community Dental Clinic is gathering more steam. Because the clinic serves the families of Sisters, Sisters Kiwanis' board recently decided to bring it under their 501(c)(3) nonprofit umbrella, allowing the clinic to accept tax-deductible donations, and capitalize its operations.

That's really good news for folks in need in the community.

To date, the clinic, which is the only one of its kind in Central Oregon, has provided over 130 hours of patient service to Sisters-area residents. Providing preventive care in one of Medical Teams International's (MTI) traveling dental vans, the clinic was originally the idea of three retired dental professionals, Celia Grayson, along with friends Dr. Henry (Hank) and Jan Failing, who wanted to do their part and give back to the community.

Preventive and restorative care is provided by a team of volunteers, which currently consists of the Failings, hygienist Christine Walters, and assistant Julie Mansfield with van coordinator Debbie Stumbaugh. The volunteers provide their time and talent with no paycheck or remuneration other than the smile on their patients' faces as they leave the van. Like the urgent/emergency care dental van which also frequents Sisters, the clinic's patients contribute a minimum of $10 (or as they are able) to receive treatment.

"We provide a basic health service and we are not in the business of competing with the comprehensive and excellent care available through dental practices in Sisters," Dr. Hank Failing emphasized. "We are very limited in what we can do in the van versus a regular office, and we're really just trying to keep folks in a holding pattern until they can get back in with their regular dentist."

The clinic has been established for adults who live within the Sisters School District, have no insurance and certify their income falls under the federal guidelines used to give out emergency food boxes at the food bank.

"We're trying to help productive members of society who have fallen on hard times. These are folks who've maintained their mouths and we hope to bridge the gap by helping them transition back into a regular dental treatment routine with their provider," Dr. Failing said.

The idea of giving folks in need a leg up has brought generous support from The Roundhouse Foundation, The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, Sisters Kiwanis Club, and a number of charitable individuals - but help is still needed to cover the cost of supplies and laboratory work for more expensive preventive/restorative work.

The clinic's MTI van is currently scheduled for preventive/restorative dental care days on the following dates in Sisters: September 28, October 19, November 30, and December 14.

For more information, contact Dawn or Theresa at Family Access Network, 541-549-0155. To donate to Sisters Community Dental Clinic, make checks payable to Sisters Kiwanis with the phrase "Dental Van" in the memo, c/o Sisters Kiwanis, P.O. Box 1296, Sisters, OR 97759.