Dental health is an essential part of overall well-being, but it’s not always accessible to Tennesseans. Medicare, for example, doesn’t include dental coverage, and TennCare didn’t expand to cover certain dental procedures until 2023. That’s why we’re grateful for organizations like the Lentz Dental Clinic, which provides both comprehensive care for kids (ages 20 and younger) and emergency care for adults. Patients are billed on an income-based sliding scale, and clinic director Kimberly Smith says they’re making a concerted effort to reach kids who may never have been to the dentist before, both in the clinic and at in-school events.
“When these kids have dental pain, they cannot pay attention at school nor participate in activities they normally would — things all children should be able to do,” Smith says via email. “[We] provide the services that they would receive at any pediatric specialty dental office for a reasonable price, and get them out of pain as fast, safely, and (most importantly) as atraumatically as possible.”
They’re not the only option either. Meharry Medical College’s School of Dentistry offers free regular Oral Health Day, and the Tennessee Alliance of Oral Health Advocates and the Tennessee Department of Health both keep lists of affordable clinics throughout Middle Tennessee. Visiting the dentist can be scary, but having so many options for care is something to smile about.
—Cole Villena
Associate Editor, Nashville Scene
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