For years, Stowe Mission of Central Ohio offered first-come, first-serve emergency care at its free dental clinics. The nonprofit group is now partnering with Columbus State Community's dental-hygiene program to offer cleanings at the South Side mission.

As a retiree living on a modest Social Security income, John McCabe can't afford to pay for dental insurance. Neither can he rely on the nation's two big public-health programs for help: The 65-year-old isn't eligible for Medicaid, and his basic Medicare coverage doesn't include dental.

"Unfortunately, I've had many extractions," McCabe said.

But his last few visits to the free dental clinic at Stowe Mission of Central Ohio were different. Instead of lining up at the door for first-come, first-served emergency care, McCabe was able to call and schedule an appointment for a checkup, X-rays and cleaning.

Stowe now partners with Columbus State Community College's dental-hygiene program to offer preventive care at the South Side mission on Parsons Avenue. The arrangement works on both ends, officials say, allowing Stowe to expand its offerings beyond extractions and critical care while providing students with important community-service experience.

Want more inspiring news? Head over to Dispatch.com/TheGoodLife and sign up for our happy news newsletter and join The Good Life Facebook group where you can share your good news.

"We talk about the need," said Beth Vetter, an instructor in Columbus State's dental-hygiene program. "Access to care is not equal for all ZIP codes. And when people don't receive regular care, their treatment needs are more severe."

Though Medicaid expansion has helped more Ohioans obtain dental coverage, the state still has "significant problems" with access, said Steven Wagner, executive director of the Universal Health Care Action Network of Ohio (UHCAN).

"Sometimes it is the number of dentists, but it also can be whether the dentist accepts Medicaid or the insurance you have," Wagner said. "And it's not required to be part of an (Affordable Care Act) plan. I think we all should be asking why our health coverage doesn't include our mouth."

His organization has pushed for Ohio to join the handful of states that has authorized the use of dental therapists — mid-level providers of dental-health services — to increase access to care and help address workforce shortages.

The number of areas in Ohio with a shortage of dental-health professionalshas gone up in recent years, Wagner said.

Halley Strevell, one of the dental-hygiene students working Friday at Stowe, said she's grateful for the chance to help underserved populations. The program also takes students on rotations at the Faith Mission homeless shelter and at Nationwide Children's Hospital.

"Not only do you meet them as patients, you get to know them as people," Strevell said.

She does her best to offer encouragement and to help chart a course toward improved dental health. "Some of them haven't seen a dentist in years," Strevell said.

The student-mission partnership started about a year ago. Columbus State President David Harrison had visited Stowe during a community-service event, saw the volunteer-supported clinic and envisioned an opportunity for the dental-hygiene program.

Program instructor Connie Grossman said working at Stowe and other social-service hubs helps students become dental-health advocates, too.

"It's easy to get out of school and go to your suburban practice and not see the need," said Grossman, a hygienist for more than 40 years. "We want to emphasize community health."

Caylee Tetteh, director of medical arts and social enterprise at Stowe, said the dental clinic keeps adding patients, serving more than 700 a year. "With the cleaning services available now, there's even more awareness," she said.

No one is turned away; those who are able give a $10 donation per tooth when extractions are necessary.

McCabe is grateful to move from an emergency-services patient to a regular who is up to date on his care. "I've had two cleanings in the last six months, and my teeth are stabilizing," the South Side resident said.

He's planning to go out on some job interviews soon, and his confidence has grown.

"I feel better about my smile," McCabe said. "You couldn't improve on what they do at Stowe, except to get them resources to do more."

rprice@dispatch.com

@RitaPrice