Community project funding/congressionally directed spending - construction - community kids dental was established to respond to urgent need in the rutland region

On june 5, 2021 the sole pediatric dental provider in the rutland area accepting medicaid closed his practice without notice, leaving close 5,000 patients without a provider. Chcrr began receiving 70-100 calls per day for pediatric dental care. Chcrr has had a long commitment to dental care as a part of comprehensive health care, operating two dental clinics, in rutland and shoreham. These practices were already at capacity, and, due to the covid-19 pandemic, have backlogs of appointments. At that time chcrr did not have a pediatric dentist on staff. Chcrr responded to this crisis by acquiring and adapting a new location to establish community kids dental in rutland, which opened in january 2022. The clinic is located below community dental on allen street and is staffed by a pediatric dentist, two dental hygienists, two dental assistants, and an office manager. Rural, low-income children are more than twice as likely to have untreated tooth decay as children with family incomes greater than 200% of the federal poverty level. Tooth decay, if left untreated, can lead to problems in eating, speaking, and learning. Strong evidence demonstrates the effectiveness of preventive dental care services, and increasing low-income children's access to these services is a critical health goal. A major barrier to poor children not receiving dental care is difficulty in finding a dentist who accepts medicaid. This new clinic will help to ensure access to affordable preventive dental care for families in the rutland region. Funding will support equipment and furnishing needs for the clinic.