Richland County students in kindergarten through twelfth grade who lack dental insurance or the Ohio medical card have the opportunity to receive free dental care from the Mansfield/Richland County Dental Clinic.
Sharisse Yirga, executive director, said this service is geared toward low to moderate income families.
“We see the kids that are what we consider the middle-class families that are being left behind,” she said.
The clinic, which is fully funded by the United Way of Richland County, is currently housed at the Richland Community Service Center on 35 N. Park St. in Mansfield. It has three operatories.
Describing the services they provide, Yirga said, “We do everything from cleanings, to exams, to fillings, and some extractions. We even take care of emergencies if necessary.”
Yirga said the clinic was created in 1929 by a group of women who were wives of area dentists.
“It was a fraternal organization kind of thing,” she described. “The wives would go around to the schools and pick the kids up and bring them to the clinic for service.”
Dentists who work in the Richland County area donate their time and sometimes their supplies, said Yirga, to help provide dental care for children. There are currently 17 dentists who serve as volunteers.
“The doctors really have a heart for these kids. They love these kids. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a dentist open their wallet up and say go get this or that for that kid,” said Yirga.
“Last year we had a doctor who said to the kid, ‘You’ve got a hole in your shoe. He said, ‘Yeah, my mom said she has to wait until she gets paid; she didn’t have the money this week.’ So the family left and the doctor came out, opened up his wallet, gave me $200, and said, ‘Find out what size shoes he wears and go get them.’ So I mean their heart and soul is in this place,” Yirga explained.
She noted, “Our problem is that we’re not reaching these kids.” She said the number of children who receive treatment has declined over the years. “We’re down to 66 kids this year. I could have 500 kids easily,” she said.
Anyone interested in applying for these services may do so by calling 419-522-1405. Families must meet with a case worker and go through a financial screening process, which takes about two weeks.
The clinic is open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. by appointment only. The clinic operates 15 hours per week while the schools are in session; thus, when schools are closed for spring break, summer break, snow days, etc., the clinic is also closed.
Each child receives a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, flosser, gum stimulator and discloser tablets at each cleaning visit, along with verbal instructions and demonstration on how to use the items.
During the 2012-2013 school year, the clinic saw 63 children, referred 18 children to specialists for further treatment and arranged emergency treatment for 16 children.
In addition to the regular clinic hours, Yirga visits area schools and teaches oral health to students of all ages. She also receives calls from the hospital emergency room for patients in need of emergency care. She then arranges for those in need to receive the necessary treatment from a local volunteer dentist.
Yirga said she enjoys interacting with the kids. “The kids are so much fun,” she said. She added, “Nothing beats getting, ‘Thank you, I don’t know how we would have done this without you,’ kind of deal from parents.”
Sharisse Yirga noted, “Our problem is that we’re not reaching these kids.” She said the number of children who receive treatment has declined over the years. “We’re down to 66 kids this year. I could have 500 kids easily,” she said.
