Within the next few months Central City Integrated Health Inc. (CCIH) in Midtown will grow from two to six dental chairs and move to a new facility to expand availability of cavity care and cleanings to the low-income population of Detroit.

“More than 42,000 Detroit residents live below the poverty line. We don’t have the capacity to service all these patients, but we wish to increase our impact on our community,” says Jean Troop, chief reimbursement officer of Central City Integrated Health.

The clinic is moving soon from Peterboro to Woodward to best accommodate the increased patient load.

Patients now wait a week to get in for cleaning and four weeks for extractions, cavities, dentures and other needs.

According to Colgate, researchers find a healthy mouth helps patients ward off medical disorders. An unhealthy mouth, especially if a patient develops gum disease, may increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, poorly controlled diabetes and early labor.

The case for good oral hygiene keeps getting stronger. CCIH wants to help.

“We serve the poor and the homeless population,” says Troop. “Many people are not worried about teeth in their hierarchy of needs, but we know this is important. With gum disease people are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic conditions. Bacteria can easily move from the mouth into the bloodstream for systemic infections.”

CCIH supports health and recovery, an expectation that consumers and stakeholders are treated with dignity and respect and an evidenced-based practice to improve the outcomes for those served by a skilled, professional staff.

Dental care is just one of the many services offered by the 40-year-old agency that started in the late 1960s as part of the Model Cities Neighborhood outreach. It offers a no-cost or sliding-scale cost for primary health, behavioral health, housing, employment and support services.

“I was really satisfied by the quality of care,” says Courtney Baldwin, a regular patient. The dentist did a cleaning and referred her to the University of Detroit Mercy Dental School to have her wisdom teeth removed.

Besides CCIH, other facilities for low-income dental work in Detroit are:

• Central City Integrated Health, 10 Peterboro. Call 313- 831-3160. Expanding from two to six chairs to better serve oral health services.
• Community Health & Social Services Center, 5635 W. Fort St. Call 313- 849-3920. Oral health care.
• Dr. Sophie Womack Health Center Dental Clinic, 7900 Kercheval. Call 313- 579-3242. Oral health care and some emergency services.
• Advantage Health Centers, 60 East Warren. Call 313-416-6261. Provides fillings, cleanings, x-rays and root canals. Discounted services for the underinsured.
• University of Detroit Mercy – School of Dentistry Dental Clinic, campuses at 4201 St. Antoine Blvd. in Detroit Receiving Hospital and 2700 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Call 313- 4745-1977 or 313- 494-6700. Provides a wide range of care by students under supervision of a dental care professional.
• Michigan Avenue Wellness Center, 5716 Michigan Ave. Call 313- 554-3880. Provides bilingual care for oral health Joy-Southfield Center, 18917 Joy Rd. Call 313-446-8800. Provides oral health care. Oral health.
• Thea Bowman Community Health Center, 15400 W. McNichols Call 313- 835-5990. Oral health offered on a sliding scale of costs.

— Lead photo: Dr. Gloria prepping to work on a patient. 

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