Information from WYSH Radio
Organizers of last weekend’s Remote Area Medical Expedition at Clinton’s First Baptist Church said the event was a huge success.
During the two-day clinic, medical, dental, and vision services estimated at more than $504,000 were provided to patients at no charge. Organizers said the vast majority of the services provided were in the dental clinic to the tune of $413,505, including one patient who received more than $8,000 in dental care.
In the vision clinic, $83,030 worth of services were provided. Another $7,634 worth of general medical services were also provided.
In all, more than 980 patients registered and 953 received treatment. Organizers of the RAM Clinic wanted to once again express their gratitude for the community support they received, including prayers, donations of goods and money, as well as time spent working by volunteers.
Information in this story brought to you through an agreement between Oak Ridge Today and WYSH. See more local news headlines on the WYSH website at http://www.wyshradio.com/local_news.html.
Sandi Goldberg says
Is there anyone who can answer what dental work can cost that much? Implants? Removal of all teeth and dentures? I am not doubting the amount, but I have had a lot of dental work and am just really curious.
johnhuotari says
I wondered that also, Sandi. Sorry, but I don’t have the specifics on what that work included.
Susan Gawarecki says
I think it’s shameful that such services need to be provided to disadvantaged east Tennesseans as if they live in the Third World. Surely as a society we can do better than this–perhaps the Affordable Care Act (aka ObamaCare) will make a positive difference for our neighbors. I refer readers to Mark 12:31.
The demand for dental care is huge, as it is not generally covered by entitlement programs. Dental problems can be very painful, and loss of teeth can significantly harm quality of life and ability to eat. The retail cost of dental services can be very high. One extraction, implantation of a post, and fitting of a cap runs in excess of $2500–if several teeth were involved, it could easily approach $8000. I find it difficult to visualize how this would be possible in a one-day service, but perhaps there was a lab onsite that could manufacture caps and dentures.