Free dental clinic in Abingdon continues through Friday
ABINGDON, Va. (WJHL) – The Appalachian Highlands Community Dental Center in Abingdon started its free dental clinic Thursday.
The clinic accepted patients from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. Thursday and continues with the same hours on Friday.
Dr. Scott Miller, the site director of the Appalachian Highlands Community Dental Center, told News Channel 11 that 49 people had registered by 9:30 a.m. Thursday with several more arriving afterward.
“We’ve had one lady that drove all the way from Greensboro last night,” Miller said. “We had a lady from Roanoke sleep in her car last night, so it’s a great need.”
12-year-old charged after Bristol, Va. school threat
Miller said the clinic provides necessary care for people who may otherwise be enduring serious pain.
“Besides back pain or a kidney stone or childbirth, tooth extraction probably comes in there in a tight race with all three of those,” Miller said.
“Our goal is to get them out of pain,” said Elaine Smith, the executive director of the dental center. “We want to keep them out of the emergency room, we want to keep them out of urgent care. We’re the safety net, we’re actually the safety net for safety nets.”
The dental center is located at 600 Campus Drive, Suite 100 in Abingdon.
The free clinic is held with the assistance of the Virginia Dental Association Foundation. The dental center plans to hold another free clinic in July, but exact dates have not yet been determined.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
