A Fading Smile : Dental Clinic for Low-Income Kids Faces Cutbacks

One of the city’s oldest nonprofit health care clinics--which last year provided free or low-cost dental services to 3,000 poor children--is in danger of having to reduce its services because of aging equipment.

No one at the Children’s Dental Health Center, which occupies a converted three-bedroom house in Golden Hill, knows exactly how old most of the dental equipment is. But they do know two things: The equipment is failing apart, and it will take $50,000 to replace.

The clinic has four dental chairs, but only two are fully operational. Items such as drills have been rebuilt four times. The clinic says its only X-ray machine has an electrical short and is liable to go on the blink at any time, which has forced the cancellation of both routine exams and emergency care.

Also on the fritz are the vacuum and water systems, which work only some of the time.

Parts Not Available

In fact, according to the center’s director, Dr. Jeanne Hoffman, “some equipment at the clinic is so old that replacement parts are no longer available.”

Because the clinic has operated on a shoestring budget for years, modern technology such as fiber optics and panoramic X-rays is nowhere to be found.

“Working at the clinic is just like Christmas,” Hoffman said. “You know you are going to get something, but you don’t know” what it is until you get it.

The Children’s Dental Health Center opened downtown in 1952 and moved to its current location at 1270 24th St. in 1964.

Root Canals Common

It treats children ages 4 to 17 whose families are unable to afford a dentist. The average patient comes from a family with four children and whose yearly household income is less than $9,000.

One of the most common procedures performed at the center is a root canal.

“It’s amazing how many of these kids need root canals,” Hoffman said. “The dental IQ of the families we serve is remarkably low. Some of these kids don’t have a toothbrush. This is a unique population that we serve.”

Relying on help from local dentists who donate their time at half-cost, the center works on the premise that no child will be turned away for lack of money, Hoffman said.

Financial Assistance

It also provides financial assistance to families who can’t afford the fees, which average about one-third those of a private dentist.

But the aging equipment is making the clinic’s job more difficult.

“Unfortunately, the unreliability of our dental equipment is beginning to disrupt our services and threaten the clinic’s efficiency,” Hoffman said. “We operate the center on a shoestring budget. Five out of the last six years we’ve had an operating deficit, and we just couldn’t afford to upgrade the clinic’s equipment.”

Jeff Jouett, president of the Children’s Dental Health Assn., which raises money for the clinic, said the center serves an important role in the community.

“A tooth problem cannot only be painful, it can hinder the development of a child and transfer into lesser accomplishments in life, relationships and schoolwork,” Jouett said.

“Every child has a right to a healthy smile, no matter rich or poor. . . . It’s awful to have a toothache and not be able to afford to have it cared for,” he said.

Some Equipment Donated

Jouett said the clinic recently appealed to the San Diego County Dental Society and received more than $8,000 in donated equipment.

“A couple of the dentists have stepped forward and donated some of their own equipment to replace some of our equipment that is on its last leg,” he said. Among the items donated was an X-ray machine, but it is not yet in use.

The clinic spends between $10,000 and $15,000 a month on dental care, which last year reached 3,000 youngsters, most of whom were referred to the clinic by school nurses or friends, according to Hoffman.

The clinic is staffed by local dentists who work one day a week for about half what they earn in private practice, Hoffman said.

Services Threatened

But that isn’t enough to keep the dual problems of a budget deficit and old equipment from taking their toll.

Although the clinic will not close, Hoffman said, it faces the prospect of greatly reduced services.

“We could treat twice as many deserving kids with the same staff, but not with the equipment they’re using at the clinic now,” Jouett said.

“We need about $50,000 to replace dental chairs, the X-ray machine, vacuum units, hand pieces and the water delivery systems, but we’re determined to keep the center open for the kids who need help,” he said.