Grant to provide free dental work in Stone, Taney counties

Residents of Stone and Taney counties who need dental care but can't afford it could receive some relief thanks to a $20,000 grant Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation was recently awarded from Skaggs Legacy Endowment.

“The prevalence of dental disease and tooth loss is disproportionately high among individuals with lower incomes who do not have financial resources needed to receive dental care,” said Shyra Bilyeu, OACAC Stone County Neighborhood Center supervisor. “When individuals are struggling to make ends meet, dental care is often pushed to the back burner.”

The Skaggs Legacy Endowment grant will provide participants a voucher for up to $1,000 in dental work at a participating dental office.

OACAC reports that 27 percent of all adults between the ages of 20 and 64 have untreated dental "caries," or decay, but the burden of the disease is not evenly distributed among the population.

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“The rate of untreated dental caries is highest at 44 percent among adults with income below 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Level — that is more than double the rate compared to individuals who have an income at or above 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level,” Bilyeu said.

To qualify for assistance, participants must have an income at or below 125 percent of the Federal Poverty Level and be a resident of Stone or Taney counties. More information is available at OACAC Neighborhood Centers in Stone and Taney counties.

“While this project specifically addresses dental care, we know that poor oral health can cause chronic pain and impact appetite, nutrition, speech and sleep and has been linked to diabetes, heart and lung disease and stroke,” Bilyeu said.

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Skaggs Legacy Endowment is a restricted endowment fund made possible by a gift from CoxHealth in 2013. Since that time, Skaggs Foundation has awarded more than $3.5 million to organizations dedicated to improving health and wellness in Stone and Taney counties.

“We recognize the important role dental care plays in a person’s overall health and wellness,” said Skaggs Foundation President Meghan Connell. “We are excited to see how this grant will positively impact lives in our community.”