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8 Community Health Center, Inc. CHC Dentistry Perhaps this is because CHC's first clinical service in Middletown in 1972 was dentistry. Or it may be because dental troubles, le unchecked and untreated, can lead to escalating health issues. Or because the underserved populations that rely on CHC oen have struggled to maintain dental insurance coverage, and without it dental care was unaffordable — but CHC is relentless in identifying ways to remove financial roadblocks. Dental clinics at every CHC location offer a full range of services, from cleanings to fillings and from root canals to crowns. As an essential component of primary care, CHC dental hygienists clean adults' and children's teeth, and educate them on proper dental hy- giene and how to prevent future problems. at's where the routine ends and the innovation begins. As part of the CHC-developed "pro-active integrated care" ini- tiative, medical staff view an electronic "patient care dashboard" with patient-specific information at each visit. at allows a medi- cal assistant, for example, to notice if a patient is due for a fluoride cleaning, even if the purpose of that day's visit is completely unre- lated to dentistry. In effect, says Chief Medical Officer Veena Channamsetty, "the care comes to them." Patients are asked if, as long as they're "al- ready here," wouldn't they also like to have that fluoride treatment done? It saves patients a return visit and more time missed from work. e approach is extended for other medical purposes, but the inclusion of dentistry-related procedures in what typically are sep- arate and distinct office visits makes it unusual and distinguishing – yet another example of CHC's promise to break down traditional barriers to enhance patient care. "The nation has made little progress in covering dentistry as medicine and the repercussions of this have rippled through the country, with generations putting off preventative care leading to extensive dental damage and decay. CHC has recognized since its first day that the relationship between the mouth and the rest of the body is critical to maintaining health." - Sheela Tummala, DDS, MPH, Chief Dental Officer Sheela Tummala, DDS, Chief Dental Officer