These dentists give hundreds of homeless patients free care every year. Now with more funding, they’ll help even more

These dentists give hundreds of homeless patients free care every year. Now with more funding, they’ll help even more

These dentists give hundreds of homeless patients free care every year. Now with more funding, they’ll help even more For people experiencing homelessness, there are countless barriers to finding work, stability, or dignity. Many of these barriers come in the form of inadequate access to physical or behavioral healthcare, but one area that often goes overlooked is the need for dental care. In fact, studies show that over half of adults experiencing homelessness are significantly more likely to have dental issues compared to the general population. A 2020 study found that 57.4% of participants in a sample of adults experiencing homelessness were missing at least half their teeth. Half — 54.6% — of respondents also reported oral pain in the six months leading up to the study. A dentist works on a patient at the Village Health Center. Photo courtesy of Father Joe's Villages In addition to the pain and lack of confidence that comes from tooth loss, without access to dental care, people can…