Revived Wheaton Dental Clinic a ‘Godsend’ for Low-Income Patients

Sprung from the ashes of the now-closed dental program of the DuPage Community Clinic, the Foundation Dental Clinic in Wheaton (416 E. Roosevelt Road) is providing a desperately needed dental service to low-income residents of the DuPage County area, the Chicago Tribune reports. 

"We may only make a dent in the need for dental services, but we want to educate our colleagues and empower them to volunteer in a professional atmosphere," volunteering dentist Kevin King told the paper. "We're very grateful to the Chicago Dental Society for stepping forward, professionally and financially."

According to the paper, the clinic has 40 volunteers, including 32 dentists, and has seen over 220 patients, and while they still have a lot of expanding to do to match the 1,600 patients annually that the old program served, they are well on their way and their patients are tremendously grateful.

"[It] is a real God-send," one homeless patient, Erik Oppenhagen, told the paper. "I would never have been able to be seen if it weren't for this clinic… I'm looking for work as a truck driver, but you can't talk to people when you need teeth."

Read the full story at the Chicago Tribune website.