Who qualifies for Community Free Dental Clinic dental services?
- Any adult 19 years and older
- Resident of Madison County
- Income less than 150% of the national poverty level
- No dental insurance
What if I don’t have any income? How can I prove my income?
We will need proof of your income or the income of the person supporting you. If no one is supporting you, proof of Food Stamps or how you are living/eating will be requested.
What if my driver’s license doesn’t show I am a Madison County resident? A bill or bank statement with your name and address will work for proof of residency (no junk mail.) If you do not have a bill or bank statement with your name and address, a letter from your landlord will work.
Who is the “usual registrant”?
Potential patients come from all walks of life. Many are underemployed or working in the service industry such as restaurants, retail stores, or construction. Others are senior citizens or veterans living off Medicare. And others are members of our community with no home to call their own. Neither Medicare, Medicaid, nor the Affordable Care Act provide dental coverage to adults and people in financial hardship are unable to buy dental coverage on their own. Without dental coverage, people often endure tooth pain until it pushes them to a hospital emergency room. There, they will receive prescriptions for antibiotics (if an obvious infection is present) and/or pain medications, but they will not receive treatment for the cause of the problem.
Does the Free Dental Clinic make dentures? Unfortunately, no dentures or partials of any kind are made at the Community Free Dental Clinic. We do not make or place implants. Please search the internet for a local provider of this service.
Can I have Wisdom Teeth removed at the clinic?
There is no way to know if the tooth/teeth must be surgically removed without an X-ray and examination. After we have done an X-ray and examined the patient, and we recommend that the tooth/teeth must be “cut out” or surgically removed, we will refer you to UAB Dental School in Birmingham for treatment. If you wish to go to UAB, go to their website for more information or to book an appointment with them.
Do you treat emergency patients? No. We are not an emergency clinic. If you are having an emergency, you must go to the Emergency Room or dial 9-1-1.
Can I walk-in or book an appointment online or through Facebook? No, you must call the clinic at 256-489-1853 to book ALL appointments.
Do you make or place implants? No.
Do you whiten teeth? No.
Can you call in an antibiotic or something for pain? You must be seen at our clinic, or a dentist of your choosing, to receive any prescriptions. We do not call-in prescriptions from the Community Free Dental Clinic.
Can I be put to sleep for an extraction or receive laughing gas (Nitrous Oxide)?
We do not sedate, put to sleep, offer laughing gas (Nitrous Oxide), or give any medication to relax a patient. We do numb the area with an anesthetic (Lidocaine, Septocaine etc.)
Who provides the dental services?
We have volunteer dentists. Some are local and some are from the University of Alabama in Birmingham.
What dental services does CFDC provide?
Initially, CFDC performs a consultation based on both an oral and X-ray exam by the dentist. We offer extractions, fillings, and cleanings
What other benefits/services does CFDC provide?
CFDC believes a collaborative approach to community health is essential for both oral and physical well-being. CFDC utilizes registered nurses who evaluate each new registrant prior to each consult or treatment. During this evaluation, the RN promotes smoking cessation, encourages medication compliance, provides referrals for medical, financial, psychological, and food assistance. Because the population CFDC is generally medically underserved, the RN often discovers highly elevated blood pressure or blood sugar and motivates the patient to seek follow-up care. On occasion, the RN has ensured a patient with potentially life-threatening symptoms has emergency care.
CFDC also provides a learning/mentoring environment for students at UAB School of Dentistry. UAH Nursing students discover the challenges of community nursing. Pre-dental students and dental assistant students from other schools explore the world of community dentistry.
The Community Free Dental Clinic is the only organization providing dental services to adults living in poverty in Madison County. We have treated over 9286 patients since 2013, and we know that we have truly impacted their lives.
Please consider supporting the Community Free Dental Clinic.
The CFDC is a 5013(c)(3) non-profit organization and all contributions are tax deductible as allowed by law.3286
