Caring for the Most Vulnerable
Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in children, yet it is preventable. Untreated cavities can cause severe pain, making it difficult for children to stay healthy and do well in school.
Approximately 1 in 3 families in Western North Carolina struggle to access oral healthcare, particularly those in rural areas, families with special needs children, or those facing economic hardships. MAHEC’s School Smiles Mobile Dentistry Program provides preventive and basic treatment services to uninsured elementary students—and often more.
MAHEC dentist Katherine Jowers asked the parents of one such student, a five-year-old child, about where they access dental care, and the parents shared:
“You! It’s just you! We had been searching for help for over two years. Until your school program found our daughter, we didn’t know what we were going to do.”
On that day, Dr. Jowers and her team treated 15 cavities and removed an abscessed molar from the little girl's mouth. But their care didn’t stop there. Upon learning that the family had no running water and relied on the French Broad River as their water source, another MAHEC team member connected them with resources to secure fresh, clean water.
Last year, MAHEC's School Smiles program provided 632 dental visits to elementary-aged children across nine schools in WNC. All of these children were either on Medicaid or uninsured. Alarmingly, half met criteria for a surgery evaluation due to five or more cavities and/or permanent molar decay.
This year, the team is partnering with school administrators to boost program enrollment, enhance oral hygiene education, and inform families that more may qualify for coverage under the recent Medicaid expansion.
By addressing immediate dental needs and overcoming barriers such as cost, transportation, family work schedules, school absences, and access to clean water, a gift to the MAHEC Annual Fund supports programs like School Smiles to ensure that children receive the dental care they need right at school.
MAHEC cares for children, families, older adults, and other vulnerable communities with programs that provide everything from healthy aging support services, medical care for those experiencing homelessness, and behavioral health services. With a gift to the MAHEC Annual Fund, you can increase the number of people served through these highly effective programs.
