Living the Grace Health Mission

Living the Grace Health Mission

with Grace Health Dental

To show the love and share the truth of Jesus Christ to southeastern Kentucky, through access to compassionate, high quality, primary health care for the whole person.

In this edition of "Living the Grace Health Mission", we are excited to highlight the positive impact of our dental team in local communities and schools across the Grace Health service area.

Members of the dental team preparing for screenings in local schools

Grace Health knows that dental hygiene is vital to overall health but often gets overlooked due to the high cost associated with that care. On September 6, the Hyden Dental Clinic eagerly welcomed its first patient, who expressed concerns about being able to afford dental care in the past. After his appointment, he was extremely appreciative of getting the care he needed without having to pay. In the short time they've been open, the Hyden Dental Clinic team has identified an extensive need for dental care in the community. The dental staff is grateful for the chance to provide much-needed dental care to local community members while reducing previous barriers to receiving that care.

In addition to the Hyden Dental Clinic, Grace Health works with Elgin Children's Foundation to provide dental screenings in local schools. According to Elgin's website, their dental program was created to ensure that children, no matter their background or status in life, have full access to dental care. The Elgin foundation works to stop the cycle of poverty that has debilitated this area for generations.

Dr. Kayla Fields, Grace Health Dental Director, and the Elgin Dental Program recently performed dental screenings in Bell County. Over 600 children in preschool through 6th grade were screened. Of those students, 50 had urgent dental needs with another 204 having cavities and decay present. One patient with an urgent need had a large cyst under their tongue and was referred to Anderson Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, P.S.C. in London for appropriate treatment. It is unclear how long the child had suffered with this cyst but Dr. Fields was able to rest assured that they would soon receive the necessary treatment to remedy the issue.

Dr. Courtney Day, Hyden Dentist