The Puget Sound Christian Clinic announced plans this week to build a new dental clinic for low income residents in South Snohomish County.

The Boeing Puget Sound employees, through their community fund, has agreed to provide $275,000 to Puget Sound Christian Clinic to build a new dental clinic in Lynnwood to address the increasing need for critical dental care.

Untreated dental disease can be debilitating, as well as painful. Dental disease has been linked to physical health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Thousands in South Snohomish County can’t get the dental care necessary to avoid these serious complications simply because of lack of insurance and the costs.

These individuals and families generally have no employer provided dental insurance and are entirely “left out” of any governmental support for dental care. They are unable to pay the significant out-of-pocket costs for restorative dental care, and are the most likely to have serious dental and periodontal issues.

“The impact of this gift is going to be incredible,” said Diane Steward, Executive Director of Puget Sound Christian Clinic. “We have been barely scratching the surface of the dental needs for the underserved population here in King and Snohomish counties. Puget Sound Christian Clinic has only been able serve roughly 200 dental patients each year at our current small clinic. We’re so grateful for the generous gift from the Boeing employees which will allow us to eventually provide much needed dental care to 3,000-plus patients annually.”

“The employees of Boeing Puget Sound through the Employees Community Fund are committed to strengthening the fabric of our communities by helping our neighbors in need,” said ECF Treasurer and Funding Committee Chair, Bob Malone. “We are glad to support PSCC in its mission to provide dental services to our neighbors in need. Healthy smiles improve employability. Improving employability for our neighbors in need strengthens the fabric of our communities.”

This is PSCC’s Vision for a New Dental Clinic:

Location:  Northwest Church’s new campus, 19825 Scriber Lake Road, Lynnwood

Staffing:  A dentist, part-time hygienist, 2 dental assistants, and office manager

Facility: 2,800 square feet, with:  five dental operatories, lab, x-ray alcove, sterilization room, state-of-the-art dental equipment, administrative offices

Projected open date: September 2015

Capacity:  The new clinic will provide 3,500 visits annually by the third year of operation

Puget Sound Christian Clinic currently provides:

• Free primary health care
• Free dental care
• Free professional counseling
• Free vision
• Free physical therapy

Medical treatment provided at:

• Fixed site at North Seattle Alliance church (Wed. evening, Friday morning)
• Mobile Clinic Sites:
  • Edmonds United Methodist Church, Tuesday mornings
  • Aurora Commons, near Greenlake, Tuesday evenings/Wednesday mornings
  • Cross View Church, Snohomish, Thursday evenings
  • Northwest Church, Shoreline, Friday afternoons
  • Jubilee Reach, Bellevue, Saturday mornings