Volunteers Address Client’s Fear of Dentist

Division of Community Health Programs (CHP) Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri and three student volunteers: Min Lynn DMD 10, Nisha Sundaragopal DMD 11, and Thalida Dong DMD 10, headed over to the Bay Cove Wellness Center Kick Off Wellness Fair on May 6. The group promoted oral health by offering education, screenings, and referrals to the adults that utilize the services offered by Bay Cove Human Services.

Bay Cove Human Services is a private, not-for-profit corporation that provides a wide variety of services to individuals and their families who face the challenges of developmental disabilities, aging, mental illness, and drug and alcohol addiction.

“I was very pleased to be able to work with Bay Cove Human Services for the first time,” said Lituri. “Many of Bay Cove’s clients are fearful of going to the dentist or have difficulty navigating access to dental services. Providing oral health screenings at Bay Cove—a setting that is familiar and comfortable for the clients—gave us an opportunity to address client’s oral health issues in a non-invasive way. Lituri continued, “In addition to screening the clients, we also had numerous conversations with the other non-dental providers in attendance, specifically addressing how they can help their clients feel less fearful of going to the dentist.”

Photos are available on GSDM’s flickr account and the Facebook page.