Business brisk at Mission dental clinic

By Julianna Bonnett

The Downtown Mission is spreading smiles one checkup at a time. 

The Mission’s new dental clinic has offered about $15,000 worth of dental work since opening in late July and is seeking more funding to bring its services to more people.

“Sixty per cent of people living in Windsor and Essex County don’t have a dental program,” said Ron Dunn, the Mission’s Executive Director. “Research has shown that poor oral health can affect the brain. Gum disease can easily lead to Alzheimer’s and dementia. It’s important to pay attention to your oral health.”

The ‘pay as you can’ clinic is named after Alan Quesnel, the philanthropist who led a community matching challenge and provided more than $1 million for the clinic and other Mission initiatives.

Services are free for people with no fixed income or address. Seventy-five per cent of the cost is covered for low-income patients. Students are welcome with a student card and acceptance letter.

Sue Pellerito left her private sector job to work as a team leader at the clinic because she believes it offers an essential service.

“I had to do this. It’s where my heart was,” she said. “I had a full-time position as a dental hygienist elsewhere but that’s not where my heart was. It was here.”

With only three workers on site and increasing demand, the clinic still needs assistance, said Pellerito.

“We are low on funds,” she said. “It’s hard for us to get people on board due to that, but the more help we can get the better.”

The clinic is located at 875 Ouellette Ave.  It is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except for the last Wednesday of every month, when it is open from noon to 8 p.m.