Dental clinic fills needs, teeth of uninsured teens

Friday, March 1, 2002 | 3:56 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION

February was National Children's Dental Health Month -- but dental care is a year-round worry in Las Vegas, especially for children who are members of families that don't have health insurance or are under insured.

"I have seen a 15-year-old boy who did not have one sound tooth in his head," said dental hygienist Annette Lincicome, who works at the Huntridge Teen Clinic on South Maryland Parkway near East Sahara Avenue.

The clinic provides some dental and medical services for young people between the ages of 12 and 18, who for one reason or another aren't covered by medical insurance.

"Last year we saw 1,000 young people in our medical clinic," clinic director Autumn Hall said. "This year we've already seen 1,000, so we could see 2,000 by the end of the year.

"The dental clinic saw close to 500 for dental work last year, and probably will see around 800 by the end of this year."

The clinic first offered medical services in 1994 and dental services in 1996. Initially it was funded by a state grant, but now it gets its funding from money paid by the tobacco companies to settle several lawsuits filed by the federal government.

"Two years ago several clinics around the state formed a coalition called Making Access Possible," Hall explained. "We applied for the tobacco money and the grant was approved. It will be up at the end of June, so we are submitting a grant application for two more years."

Hall said the number of patients who seek help at the clinic is the tip of the iceberg.

"We probably see less than 10 percent of those who are eligible for the services," she said. "Our phones have been ringing off the hook since Sept. 11 because of all the layoffs that took place and the lack of insurance. People were barely making it before, now they aren't making it at all."

To be eligible for services a teenager must not have insurance or access to health care and must be a resident of Clark County. Some clients have dropped out of school, but fall within the age guidelines. Some clients are illegal immigrants -- however the clinic doesn't evaluate a child's residency status, only the pain.

"Sometimes people have insurance but can't use it because the co-pays are so high," Hall said.

The clinic does not have a doctor but employs two part-time nurse practitioners who give sports and camp physicals, treat minor illnesses, provide health education and family planning and do tests for sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy.

Hall said the clinic doesn't use a doctor because of insurance reasons, but it does have access to 17 dentists who volunteer their services several hours each month.

A hygienist cleans teeth three to four days a week.

Oday Shomali, 16, a sophomore at Green Valley High School, is among those who take advantage of the dental-cleaning services. He was in the hygienist's chair earlier this week.

"This is my second time to come here," Shomali, a native of Jordan, said. "It's a good place."

He first learned about the clinic five months ago when his entire class was taken to the facility for cancer screening, a dental service that gives the staff a chance to educate the young people about the perils of using tobacco.

One or more dentists usually come in on Fridays to fill or pull teeth, perform root canals and provide other services.

However, there are about 100 young people on the waiting list to see a dentist, and the wait may be weeks or months.

"If a kid wakes up in the middle of the night in pain, we can't get them in," Hall said.

Those who use the clinic may spend as long as two hours riding city buses to get there.

"One mother walked with her kids two miles to get here because the car wouldn't start," Hall said.

The clinic asks for a $10 donation for dental services, money that is used to buy office supplies. But only about 35 percent of the clients can afford to pay the voluntary fee.

Hall said one family of eight that came to the clinic was so bad off it shared one toothbrush.

"We see kids with blue teeth and green teeth," Hall said. "But after a few months of treatment they're all right."