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Opinion

Duncan: Reduced cost dental care available for Sun City residents

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The Mission of the Sun City Community Assistance Network is to, “Connect people with resources to enhance their standard of living.”

In other words, Sun City CAN helps people save money on things like property taxes, income taxes, utilities, Medicare premiums, prescription drugs and other things.

Many benefits go unclaimed simply because people are unaware that the benefits exist. In an effort to shed light on some of the help that is available to low-income seniors, I will write a guest commentary each month about a different senior help program.

Below is a listing of benefits available for low-income seniors that some may not realize are available.

Dental help

Probably few Sun City residents are aware that we have a dental college “at our back door.”

Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Arizona is located just off of Loop 101 at the 59th Avenue Exit at 5855 W. Utopia Road, Glendale. Each year Midwestern graduates about 140 new dentists. They have a state of the art dental facility with 240 dental chairs.

Midwestern’s dental facility provides treatment at reduced fees. The program is open to all regardless of income. Midwestern does not generally quote fees over the phone or by email but their fees are approximately 30%-50% of what the fees would be in a private office. Midwestern is a contracted provider for Delta Dental and Blue Cross Blue Shield and the staff assists patients with filling out claims for other insurance providers.

The first step in becoming a patient is to schedule a screening appointment. This no-cost exam determines whether or not the dental clinic can provide the needed treatment. Patients who are accepted into the program are assigned to a pair of students — a third-year student and a fourth-year student — who become their dental provider. The students work under the direct supervision of licensed experienced general dentists. Should patients require more complex treatment, care will be provided by a licensed dental specialist. Also, Midwestern has licensed dental hygienists on staff to provide routine cleanings.

People who are interested in becoming a patient at the Midwestern Dental Institute should call 623-537-6000 to schedule a screening appointment. If they are accepted into the program after the screening appointment, they will be assigned to a student pair who will telephone them to set up their comprehensive exam appointment.

Additional information about how to schedule an appointment and what to bring to the appointment is available at mwuclinics.com.

Editor’s Note: Hugh Duncan is Sun City Community Assistance Network board president.