| Dentalgram |
January 2002
|
SAC–Norton dental clinic provides
much-needed care
 |
| Faculty who staff SAC-Norton dental clinic include (from left): Drs. Ronald Fritz; Periza Zaninovic; Rodney Turner; Koren Borland; and John Neary. Drs. Turner and Neary work at the clinic full time. |
“Everyone deserves quality dental care,” proclaims
the bright yellow brochure that introduces the dental clinic at SAC–Norton
clinic, located at 1455 East Third Street in San Bernardino.
The dental clinic, which opened in 1995, is located on the former Norton
Air Force Base. It is under the umbrella of SAC (Social Action Community)
Health System, part of Loma Linda University.
The clinic provides service to a population which is medically
underserved—and accepts Denti-Cal and Healthy Families plans, in
addition to other insurance. Clients with limited income may qualify for
a sliding-fee scale, based on income and family size.
Though many patients live in the community near the clinic, some who have
experienced the care given travel to the clinic from outside the area—one
patient commutes for dental care from Vista.
The clinic staff is comprised of three full-time and two part-time dentists,
five registered dental assistants, and two chairside dental assistants.
Nancy Young serves as administrator for the SAC–Norton facility.
The dental clinic offers full-scale dental care, including preventive
and restorative dentistry, periodontal and endodontic treatment, crowns
and fixed bridges, dentures, oral surgery, and mouthguard fabrication.
 |
| When patients come to SAC-Norton dental clinic for treatment, the first people they meet are (pictured from left): Gemma Gonzales, clinic manager; Nancy Verdugo and Darlene Guzman, front office; Monica Hegardt, front office and chairside assistant. |
Dental hygiene students provide care on Thursdays, under the direction
of Karen Simpson.
In addition, staff often assist in community outreach including health
fairs.
Compassion Clinic
Compassion Clinic is a free dental clinic which began operation on January
10, 1999, at SAC-Norton Dental Clinic. It is staffed by volunteers two
Sundays a month, from noon to 6:00 p.m. Dentists,student dentists and
dental hygienists from the School of Dentistry, as well as personnel from
SAC-Norton Dental Clinic and from the private dental practice of Drs.
Mark Carpenter and Erin Estey, donate their time and expertise to help
members of the community.
From 20 to 30 patients are served at each clinic session. The patients
return until their treatment is complete, then another patient is added.
According to Mark Carpenter, SD’80, Compassion Clinic’s founder,
the clinic is responding in Christian love to serve the people of the
Inland Empire. “Referral and screening for eligibility is provided
by eight faith-based agencies who regularly serve the poor in our area,”
says Dr. Carpenter. “Clients have no other resource for care and
are living at the level of poverty, where the average income is $5,500
a year.”
 |
| Assisting at SAC dental clinic are: Greg Hegardt, Blanca Prostitis, RDA; Lawanna Lee, DA; Maria Garcia, RDA; Erlinda Reynoso, RDA; Jose Ortiz, RDAEF. Not pictured: Louise Lopez RDA. |
Compassion Clinic patients are referred and transported by churches with
outreach ministries: Loma Linda University Church of Seventh-day Adventists,
Lutheran Central City, Salvation Army, St. Mary’s, The Rock Christian
Center, Cornerstone Christian Fellowship, Set Free Ministries, Ecclesia,
and San Bernardino Nazarene.
The service learning department of the School of Dentistry oversees the
clinic and provides student volunteers.
Compassion Clinic depends on private donations. Although the treatments
are free to patients, the overhead cost is approximately $15 per patient
visit, excluding laboratory fees for replacement teeth.
Dr. Carpenter and sponsoring agencies would like Inland Empire residents, businesses, and churches to partner with the program to sponsor a dental chair for one day ($60), aclinic for one day ($600 for 40 patients), or for a month ($1,200). To make a donation, contact Barbara Bostwick, development office, at (909) 558-4969.
 |
Not all SAC-Norton dental clinic patients live in San Bernadino. Here, Dr. Ronald Fritz examines a patient who commutes from Vista, California |
All contents copyright © 2001 Loma Linda University.
All rights reserved. Revised February 14, 2001
Send comments and questions to webmaster@univ.llu.edu
URL: http://www.llu.edu