An oral health service expansion in the Greater Danbury area is being funded by an annual federal grant.

Connecticut Institute For Communities President and CEO James Maloney and 5th District Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty have announced that the Greater Danbury Community Health Center has received an annual Federal grant of $350,000 from the Health Resources and Services Administration.  The funding will be used to expand dental services in the greater Danbury area.

Currently the Center has one part time dentist and one full time dental hygienists.  The Greater Danbury Community Health Center plans to add three dentists, two dental hygienists and five dental assistants to its existing dental team; along with two additional dental operatories.

Maloney says a large number of children and adults unnecessarily suffer the consequences of dental diseases because of the inability to access affordable preventive and treatment services in a timely manner.

Based on data from the Connecticut Department of Public Health, Department of Education, the U.S. Center for Disease Control’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, as well as local data, the Health Center found that there are more than 31,000 people in the Greater Danbury service area in need of preventive and restorative oral health care services. 

The federally qualified health center provides a comprehensive range of medical, dental and behavioral primary healthcare services to people of all ages, regardless of their ability to pay or their insurance status.  The services are provided on a sliding fee basis.