Area Community Health Emissaries’ (ACHE) Dental Clinic is on the move.
The clinic is relocating to a new office at 516 W. McCord, next to the Kelly Club.
Nancy Burks, director of dental services, said the move from 916 W. South was to provide a larger clinic with more dentist chairs. The current building is about 500-square-feet, while the new office will provide approximately 2,000-square-feet of space.
The new clinic opening in mid-February will feature four operating rooms, two dentists, a hygienist, a large waiting room, and office space. The current clinic allows for two operating rooms, which means only one dentist at a time can work in the space.
“Studies have shown that diabetes, heart disease and other illnesses are negatively affected by decayed teeth or gum disease,” Burks said. “If we can keep their teeth healthy, we can cut their overall medical costs. It’s better to keep a person’s mouth healthy, so there is less hospitalization. If we can keep down the amount of emergency room visits, I feel like overall, that cuts our health care costs.”
The clinic, which also has a facility in Anderson, serves people in Newton, McDonald, Lawrence, Jasper and Barry counties. Burks said ACHE is also establishing a clinic in Nevada, Mo.
The clinic provides dental screenings, fluoride varnishes and sealants to children’s teeth in addition to dental care such as filling cavities. The clinic also conducts dental classes in area schools, including Neosho, East Newton, Westview, Carthage, McDonald County and Avilla, teaching kids how to properly care for their teeth and passing out toothbrushes, toothpaste and other healthy smile supplies.
As a way of helping, the Jarden Foundation donated $5,136, and representatives of the company recently toured the new dental clinic.
ACHE was organized in 2003 as a community based, Christian service agency to provide dental services to low income children in Southwest Missouri.
