Long Branch Health Center Will Use Grant to Build New Dental Facility

It has been a big week for in Long Branch.

Earlier this week, the center, located at 270 Broadway, was chosen as the that was made possible by the Affordable Care Act, also known as the health care reform law.

The center will use the grant for a $6,000 sq. foot addition which will house 10 dental rooms in 2013, according to Monmouth Family Health Center Executive Director Marta Silverberg.

“We are delighted that this funding will allow us to relocate, consolidate, expand and renovate our dental center,” said Marta C. Silverberg, Executive Director of the Monmouth Family Health Center.  “We will be renovating a state of the art facility equipped with the latest technology including digital x-rays and electronic health records."

"Additionally, we will  expand our dental capacity by 25 percent," Silverberg continued. "Our patients will benefit enormously both in efficiency, technology and quality of dental services offered at Long Branch.”

The grant was part of an overall investment of $18 million to expand and improve services at seven New Jersey health centers.

U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Congressman Frank Pallone (NJ-06) visited the center on Thursday morning and spoke of the importance of aiding and improving health centers in the state.

"So many lives are touched by federally-funded health centers," Menendez said. "This law is helping improve the health and well-being of us all."

“Not only will the Monmouth Family Health Center soon be expanded and equipped to care for more patients, we will create good construction and health care jobs in the process," Menendez added.

Pallone said many people he has spoken to over the years have said dental care is one of their greatest needs.

"The Affordable Care Act is designed to make sure people have preventitive care, and that's what dental care is," Pallone said. "With the recession, a lot more people come here with no health insurance and need the services and the care provided by family health centers."

“The more than $3.4 million that the Monmouth Family Health Center will receive under this grant will help expand services and provide essential funding that will keep families throughout Monmouth County healthy," Pallone continued.

Silverberg said she was so thankful to the state's legislators for helping bring the grant to the center.

"It will help us provide residents with a beautiful dental center that we hope to establish within a year and half," Silverberg said.