Volunteers from the Evanston Lighthouse Rotary Club recently helped construct a temporary dental clinic at the Levy Senior Center. Volunteer dental practitioners treated a record 133 patients over the two-day event. Children, teens and adults received nearly $110,000 worth of preventive, surgical, restorative and aesthetic treatment. About 50 volunteers were involved in preparing for the event and providing dental care. Funding for Dental Access Days was provided by Northfield Community Church, Fischl Dental, Glenview Community Church, Immanuel United Church of Christ and Evanston Lighthouse Rotary Club.
But there was more. This year, Presence Saint Francis Hospital provided blood diagnostics and registration for women’s health screenings. The Illinois Eye Center returned for its second year to provide vision screenings. Undiagnosed glaucoma was discovered in one patient, who is now receiving sight-saving care.
Organized in Evanston by Bill and Heather McKinley, Dental Access Days was started by the Giving Hand Foundation and the Pankey Institute, a non-profit educational center for dentists that encourages their alumni to provide oral care to the underserved.