Ask Karen: Will area dentists accept payments?

Karen McNew
WSLS 10 anchor
Published: September 3, 2008

QUESTION: Do you know of any area dentists who will take payments? We do not have dental insurance and cannot afford to go. Thank you so much.

ANSWER:  As I’ve highlighted in 10 On Your Side Health reports recently, a person’s dental health can have a major impact on overall health. It has been linked in recent research to many different conditions including heart disease.

When I started looking for help for you, Roanoke’s Bradley Free Clinic Executive Director Estelle Avner told me, “We will be happy to sit down with them and take a look at their financial situation.”

What about the other 50 percent of Virginians, who according to the Virginia Health Care Foundation don’t have dental insurance? I decided I would be doing them a disservice if I didn’t try to find the closest resources for people in all parts of Southwest and Central Virginia.

Debbie Oswalt with VHCF says, “Many people when they are trying to make choices about how to spend limited resources don’t choose the dentist until they feel pain.”

The VHCF has made it their mission to find affordable dental care for all Virginians and has about 71 communities that have what are called “Dental Safety Net Providers.”

But, Oswalt says the need is so great that each of those offices is overwhelmed. However, it is at least a starting point for people who feel like they have no place else to turn.
Here is the On Your Side information about who you can call in your area to try to get dental care in your community. If you do not see your community listed here I have placed an even more comprehensive list under health at http://www.wsls.com along with a link to the Virginia Health Care Foundation. The VHCF phone number is
(804) 828-5804.

Martinsville Health Department
295 Commonwealth Blvd.
Martinsville, VA 24114
276-638-2311

Piedmont Virginia Dental Health Foundation Community Dental Clinic
23 Starling Ave.
Martinsville, VA 24112
276-632-7727

Danville City Health Department
326 Taylor Dr.
Danville, VA 24541
434-799-5190

Free Clinic of Danville
133 South Ridge Street
Danville, VA 24543
434-799-1223

Pittsylvania County Health Department
200 H.G. McGhee Drive
Chatham, VA 24531
434-799-5190

Bedford Health Department
600 Bedford Ave.
Bedford, VA 24523
434-947-6777 | 540-586-7955

Free Clinic of Central Virginia
1016 Main Street
Lynchburg, VA 24504
(434) 847- 5866

James River Dental Clinic (Johnson Health Center)
239 Trojan Lane
Madison Heights, VA 24572
434-847-4691