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Aug. 17—The hallways were a little more narrow, the three examination rooms were a tad more snug.
But other than that, the space inside the white trailer parked outside of the Berks Community Health Center at Oakbrook on Wednesday looked exactly like a typical dental office.
And that was the whole idea.
The Healthy Smiles for Miles mobile dental clinic stopped by Reading as part of a 12-city tour. The clinic is an effort between Highmark Wholecare and United Concordia Dental intended to provide access to dental care to typically underserved areas.
"We just want to eliminate any barriers to getting care," said Adria Laboy, community engagement specialist for Highmark Wholecare.
That is a particularly important task right now, Laboy said. The COVID pandemic has made access to medical care — including dental care — more difficult for many families.
According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, there has been a 69% decrease in dental services among Medicaid patients due to pandemic lockdowns and socio-economic struggles.
By bringing a clinic to patients, Laboy said, it can help overcome challenges such as a lack of transportation of a scarcity of providers.
Wednesday's clinic was aimed at kids and young adults. Medicaid patients ages 20 and under with insurance through Highmark Wholecare were able to receive a variety of free services including X-rays, cleanings and full exams.
About 60 patients were scheduled to receive care Wednesday, Laboy said. During the mobile clinic's full tour, it is expected care will be provided to about 1,000 patients.
