Piedmont Virginia Dental Health

Piedmont Virginia Dental Health, formerly known as the Community Dental Clinic, has a significant history of serving the Martinsville and Henry County area of Virginia. Established 16 years prior to its transition in October 2021, the clinic was founded by the Piedmont Virginia Dental Health Foundation with the mission of providing quality and affordable dental health services to medically underserved children and adults. Over its operational period, the clinic provided more than $13 million in dental services and handled nearly 57,000 patient visits, demonstrating its crucial role in the community. In October 2021, the operation of the Community Dental Clinic was taken over by the Martinsville Henry County Coalition for Health and Wellness ("PATHS"), a non-profit 501(c)3 organization and a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). This transition aimed to expand health services for low-income residents and specifically increase access to dental services for Medicaid patients. The Coalition receives federal funding to provide primary healthcare services in underserved areas, complementing the historical funding provided by The Harvest Foundation and other community donations that supported the dental clinic. Piedmont Virginia Dental Health, under the new management, continues its commitment to offering general dentistry for all ages, including preventative care (exams, X-rays, cleanings, fluoride, and education) and restorative care (fillings, tooth extractions, and crowns). The clinic emphasizes affordable care, often providing significant discounts to patients from households living at or below 250% of the federal poverty level and accepting Virginia Medicaid. The clinic also has a connection to Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Dentistry through its website, which is hosted on the VCU domain. VCU's Department of Dental Public Health and Policy engages in service-learning programs and partnerships, including Missions of Mercy projects, which provide free dental care to underserved populations across Virginia. While the source content directly links Piedmont Virginia Dental Health to VCU's dentalpublichealth.vcu.edu, it's important to note that the operational management shifted to PATHS, and the VCU website primarily highlights community engagement and outreach efforts.