The Triangle Tribune: NCDS Foundation Tackles Dental Care Crisis

More than half of North Carolina counties have fewer than four dentists per 10,000 people, and a few counties have no dentists at all.

The North Carolina Dental Society Foundation is stepping up to meet those residents where they are for essential dental services.

Dr. Amanda Stroud, dental director and chief dental officer for AppHealthCare and a member of the foundation board, said she sees the need firsthand. She explained the biggest barriers are lack of dental insurance, affordability and the ability to get timely appointments.

"It may be that someone has to wait six to nine months for a dental appointment when they may be having tooth pain," Stroud said. "And it may be that once they get that appointment, that appointment's just for a planning process and not always something that can help treat the pain or manage the dental issues."

Stroud said such challenges affect a significant number of people, particularly in rural parts of the state. So, the foundation supports programs like "Give Kids a Smile" and the "Missions of Mercy" clinics to provide free oral health services.

Stroud emphasized the events are supported by fundraising efforts like an annual golf challenge. Dentists from across the state volunteer to perform extractions, fillings and cleanings and sometimes offering lifesaving care.

"You can have a dental infection that becomes something that is a cause of death for the patient," Stroud said. "And that's happened in the United States. And you don't want to think about that happening in the United States, but it has."

Sharon D'Costa, fund development and program director for the foundation, said the efforts so far have reached nearly 73,000 patients. Beyond direct care, she stressed they are helping to expand the dental workforce in the state.

"We're working with community colleges to kind of provide students with scholarships," D'Costa said. "We're also initiating new programs. We're incentivizing faculty to stay in their jobs as well as get new faculty to take on roles teaching dental assisting and dental hygiene students."

D'Costa added the foundation awards grants and recognizes public health efforts to improve access to dental care. She acknowledged it is challenging to mobilize volunteers and secure funding, but strong community partnerships help the foundation improve its impact.