State’s only free dental clinic facing closure

After 22 years, Hawaii’s only no-cost dental clinic may close this summer. The Aloha Medical Mission’s Dental Clinic has hit financial hardship, and while donors have kept the clinic open for years, funding has stopped.

Board members said the clinic has until later in June or July before it runs out of money.

“With this reduction, and with COVID coming through and inflation, everything is now costing us more. Rent has gone up, supplies, dental supplies have gone up. But people’s problems or health problems haven’t stopped,” said Mei-Ling Isaacs, executive director of the clinic.

The clinic has six paid staff members and seven volunteer dentists who treat about 300 patients each month at their Kalihi clinic.

“Changing people’s lives. That’s why we’re here. Giving them hope, pain-free hope,” Ms. Isaacs added. The clinic is looking at ways it can stay open amid hopes that the city or state grants will save its services. 

Full story: KHON-2

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