Dentist Holds Free Clinic For People In Need In Hybla Valley

HYBLA VALLEY, VA — A dentist's office that has been recognized for providing care for people in need will hold a free dental clinic Saturday in Hybla Valley.

Mount Vernon Center for Dentistry will hold its free clinic Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at its office, 8101 Hinson Farm Road, Suite 114, Alexandria, VA 22306. The clinic will provide cleanings, fillings and extractions. The event will be first come, first served, and all ages are welcome.

This isn't the first time the dentist's office has hosted free clinics. A resolution approved by the the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in January 2020 noted the dentist has provided free dental care to those who experienced homelessness and people with disabilities. The resolution also noted the dentist partnered with organizations like United Community, New Hope housing, Good Shepherd Housing, and Quality Trust to provide care for people in need. The dentist has participated in the work awareness and transition program for students with disabilities at several Fairfax County high schools.

Oral health can be linked to a person's health in other parts of the body, including cardiovascular health. However, research shows poor oral health is more common among low-income, minority, immigrant and rural populations who cannot access quality care.

When the resolution was approved in 2020, Lee District Supervisor Rodney Lusk thanked the dentist for their work, given it can be hard to find services for people in need. Lusk saw that difficulty in finding services when he worked in human services decades ago on the Richmond Highway corridor.

"We had a number of clients at that time who had issues dental related, and one of the most difficult things was to try to find a provision for service especially for the adults. So what that meant is many of them kind of live with the pain of that dental teeth that they had."

Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross noted the first thing people may notice about a person is their face and smile. But if a person is experiencing dental problems, they may be in pain or embarrassed.

"What you're doing is an inspiration and a template," Gross said. "I would hope for others to follow. Because there is such an unmet need."