'Molar Express' Offers Free Dental Care

The Molar Express is in town next week! And they are offering free dental care to anyone 21 and under.

The program is operated and run by three Rhode Island health care agencies, Comprehensive Community Action Program (CCAP), East Bay Community Action Program (EBCAP), andThundermist Health Centers and each center has the Molar for one month every three months. Once a school is enrolled in the program, enrollment forms are dropped off at the school during the beginning of the school year for the students and their parents to fill out.

Once the child in enrolled in the program, a time is set up with the school for the dentist to come in to do a full comprehensive exam on the child and then later a hygienist comes to do a cleaning and put sealants in if needed. If the dentist recommends a filling, extraction, or x-ray be taken, the child is given a consent form to be signed by the parents so that they can be seen on the Molar Express for further dental care. As long as it is within the dental teams scope of abilities, they will do it.

During the summer or school vacation weeks, students can receive dental care on the Molar Express or at one of the health centers. The program is open to anyone that is 21 or under and there is never a charge to the patient, and if the patient or family does not have dental insurance, all services are free.

The Molar Express was donated by the Ronald MacDonald foundation about seven years ago and is financed through grant money, private donations, and the Ronald MacDonald House Charities of Eastern New England.

Once a child is enrolled in the program, they can go to the Molar Express or any of the health centers that help run it.

Tara Pratt, director of the Molar Express with Comprehensive Community Action Program says that the goal of the program is to simply give all children access to dental care.

“Good health begins with the mouth and in today’s economy, many families are being hit hard financially; which is why our program is open to all children,” Pratt said. “Families with state insurance don’t need to make a hundred calls to find a participating provider and the uninsured do not need to feel the financial burden.”

Pratt spoke of the Molar’s desire to go wherever there is a need.

“We really want people to know that we are there for them and so we will go wherever there is a need,” Pratt said. “And people can come to use from anywhere to utilize the service; we are here for them.”

The Molar Express is coming to Main Office at 14 Manchester Circle on August 16 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

There are plenty of spots open and if you wish to make an appointment, please call Erin Quinlan at 401-828-4367. If you unable to come on August 16, please call the Comprehensive Community Action Program at 401-942-4867 to set up an appointment for your child on another date.