Fish for Teeth, a non-profit organization committed to providing essential dental care, has successfully completed its first year of sponsoring the San Juan Island Community Dental Clinic. Through partnerships with local dental professionals, the organization has been able to offer free dental services to individuals who may otherwise struggle to afford necessary care or take time off work for off-island visits.
The Community Dental Clinic operates four times a year, providing services including dental exams, x-rays, hygiene treatments, extractions, fillings, and dentures. These clinics are made possible by a collaboration between Fish for Teeth, San Juan County Health and Community Services (SJCHCS), and a grant from the North Sound Accountable Communities of Health Local Impact Network (LIN). In 2024, the program has already provided crucial dental care to nearly 100 local patients, with over $80,000 worth of treatments delivered at the four clinics.
The funding for these services in 2024 was approximately $30,000, shared between Fish for Teeth, SJCHCS, and the LIN grant. However, the LIN grant will expire at the end of the year, which means the community will need to play a more significant role in funding the clinics moving forward in 2025.
In addition to supporting the Community Dental Clinic, Fish for Teeth also coordinated a School-Based Sealant Program last May. This program, staffed by volunteer dental professionals, offered preventive care to students who may have otherwise lacked access to these services. Over two days, 54 students received dental care, including 29 students who had 114 teeth sealed. The program also provided 46 dental cleanings and 9 referrals for further care. Additionally, oral health education was delivered to 252 students across 12 classrooms.
Fish for Teeth continues to fund its programs through community support, including its popular Fish Taco fundraiser, which will be held on Friday, November 15, at Brickworks from 11 am to 1:30 pm. Another source of income is the Fish for Teeth “Penny-Smashing Machine” located outside Friday Harbor Drug. For 51 cents, the machine produces a commemorative pressed penny of Friday Harbor/San Juan Island, and it also accepts receipts from Kings Market, which donates 1% of the receipt totals to Fish for Teeth.
With continued community involvement, Fish for Teeth is poised to sustain and expand its efforts to improve dental health across San Juan Island.
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