The West Kootenay Community TEETH Clinic Society has been providing access for community members with a net family income of less than $30,000 since June 2014.
In January of this year, TEETH won first prize from Pacific Blue Cross 75th Anniversary Share the Care Giveaway. This prize has enabled the TEETH board to seek, organize and create partnerships in the region such as satellite clinics and mobile dental hygiene services to increase access to low-cost quality dental care in outlying areas.
Up until now, the primary location for TEETH services has solely been running out of Dr. Ospechook’s dental office in Nelson when his own practice is closed. Current TEETH satellite partnerships have now been established with Record Ridge Denture Clinic located in Trail; Dr. Donato DeSandoli, located at Saddle Mountain Dental Clinic in Nakusp and Dr. Howard Fox, located at Cedar Avenue Dental Centre in Trail. Additionally, Mobile Dental Hygiene services provided by RDH Andrea Noel can now be accessed at various Interior Health Authority locations throughout the Kootenay Boundary region.
Clients interested in seeking dental services from TEETH clinics must first register to become a TEETH client. There are various intake locations throughout the Kootenay-Boundary region where trained volunteers can assist individuals in the registration process. Applications are also available online: http://www.healthco-op.ca.
Once you are a registered TEETH client, either the TEETH administration staff or the satellite dental clinic staff will call you to set up your initial dental appointment. Please note, all locations of TEETH all appointments are pre-arranged and cannot accept walk-in clients.
For more information on TEETH such as intake locations or how you can get involved in a partnership please contact TEETHClinicWK@gmail.com or 250-352-6560 (TEETH info hotline).
