🍾 May is national dental care awareness month

In this edition:

• 🍾 May is national dental care awareness month

• 💰 Financial issues plague free dental clinic

• 🦷 Missing teeth & joint pain? Rheumatoid arthritis may be imminent

• 💸 Slower wage gains in 2024 than projected

• ⚾️ Dentist saves baseball player

• And more!

Financial issues plague free dental clinic

After serving Hawaii's low-income population for over 20 years, the state's only free dental clinic might be forced to close its doors this summer.

The Aloha Medical Mission dental clinic provides basic dental services, such as exams, cleanings, fillings and extractions, to patients who lack dental insurance coverage. But the clinic, which is funded solely through grants and donations, is running out of funding to keep its operations going.

• The clinic has completed approximately $4 million worth of services

The clinic is staffed by a paid dental director and a paid part-time dentist, with the rest of the services being provided by seven volunteer dentists — most of whom are retired dentists. The clinic's approximately $750,000 budget goes toward just the necessities: rent, salaries for paid employees and dental supplies.

May is national dental care month

This month provides us with a unique opportunity to elevate public awareness about the importance of oral health and its impact on overall well-being.

As advocates for dental care, we need to leverage our expertise to educate and empower our patients to prioritize their oral hygiene.

Together, let's make a difference in promoting healthy smiles and fostering a culture of proactive dental care in our communities.