In August 2000, a dental clinic was added to the HEALS Cassity clinic. The success of the HEALS dental clinic has shown that affordable, accessible dental care is not just a dream. The Dental clinic is located behind the Cassity clinic in a portable classroom, which was donated by The Huntsville school system.

Volunteers from both the school system and the community converted it into the dental facility with three operatories. Seventeen local dentists and many other dental professions volunteer their time in providing services to most of Huntsville’s neediest population. The HEALS dental clinic is the only ‘free’ dental clinic in Huntsville.

HEALS takes referrals from all schools in Madison County for children who have no insurance. Our volunteer dentists say that they are seeing some of the worst cases ever; worse even than the mission trips they take to undeveloped countries.

HEALS’ free dental care gives our children smiles for life:

• Preventive care, including cleanings, x-rays, and fluoride,
• Sealants and periodontal care
• Restorative care, including fillings, root canals,
• Pulpectomy and extractions
• Space maintenance and SS crowns
• Dental hygiene education presentations at each HEALS school.

  Accomplishments

  What HEALS' Dental Clinic has accomplished:

  • Become a grantee of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Caring For Kids Grant
  • Become a rotation site for UAB resident dental students to complete clinical requirements
  • Become a site for the national S.E.A.R.C.H. program, which forgives student loans to graduates working in indigent and rural clinics
  • Provided nearly $1,000,000 in services (using Medicaid reimbursement rates)
  • Logged over 6,000 volunteer hours
  • Received a new Pan-Wing and pass-through X-ray machines
  • Presented nationally at the National Public Health Conference and the Center for Health and Health Care in chools Conference
  • Become a model nationally for School-Based Dental Clinics