Give today to provide quality dental care to uninsured and underinsured patients in Southwest Virginia

Appalachian Highlands Community Dental Charities (AHCDC) is crucial in improving access to dental care for underserved populations in Southwest Virginia. The organization is dedicated to providing high-quality, affordable dental services to those who would otherwise struggle to receive proper care due to financial or geographic barriers. Here's an overview of the Center's impact and the role it plays in the community:

Key Services and Impact

1. Comprehensive Dental Care:
   AHCDC offers a wide range of dental services to meet the needs of its patients, including:
   • Preventive care: Cleanings, sealants, and oral cancer screenings.
   • Restorative services: Fillings, crowns, bridgework, bonding, and implants.
   • Periodontal care: Treatment for gum disease.
   • Advanced treatments: Root canals, extractions, removable dentures, and more.
   • Preventive health: Chronic care management (blood pressure screenings)
2. Serving the Medically Underserved:
   As one of the largest clinics accepting Medicaid in Southwest Virginia, AHCDC is a lifeline for those who have limited resources for dental care. The clinic treats a wide age range of patients, from 10 to 97 years old, ensuring that both children and adults receive the care they need.
3. Training Future Dentists:
   AHCDC is also a residency site, training 8 dental school graduates each year in a dental health professional shortage area. This residency program helps to address the shortage of dental professionals in the region by fostering the next generation of dentists who will be equipped to serve the community's needs.
4. Community Partnerships:
   The center collaborates with local organizations, local schools, community colleges throughout the state, Job Corps programs, free clinics, hospitals/emergency departments, and social service organizations to ensure that the uninsured and underinsured populations receive the dental care they need. In 2024, AHCDC received 2,142 referrals from these community partners, showcasing the clinic's deep integration into the local healthcare ecosystem.
5. A History of Service:
   Since its opening, the Appalachian Highlands Community Dental Center has served 7,928 individual patients and documented 32,193 visits. This speaks to the vital role the dental center plays in addressing the ongoing dental care needs of Southwest Virginia's residents.

Making a Difference

The work done by AHCDC goes beyond just dental care—it is about creating a path to recovery and restoration for individuals in need. Whether it is through providing dental care to individuals recovering from addiction, supporting those in low-income housing, or offering preventive services to children in schools, AHCDC plays a transformative role in the community’s health and well-being.

How You Can Help

Your contribution to the Appalachian Highlands Community Dental Center directly impacts the lives of individuals in Southwest Virginia. Whether through financial donations, volunteer work, or raising awareness, your support can help continue and expand the critical work of providing dental services to those who need it the most. By helping AHCDC, you are improving oral health and contributing to the broader effort of health equity in the region.

In summary, AHCDC is much more than a dental center; it is a community partner working to create better health outcomes and access to care for one of Virginia’s most underserved regions. Through education, treatment, and partnerships, AHCDC is changing lives—and your support can help make that change continue to grow.

Questions? Email rhelton@appalachiandentalcharities.org or call 276-275-1063.