DENTAL PROGRAM
KEY DENTAL SERVICES
Examinations
X-Rays
Simple Extractions
Fillings
Partial and Full Dentures
Teeth Cleaning
Fluoride treatment for
Children 0-5 The Free Clinic of Simi Valley began offering dental services in
2006. The Dental Program includes volunteer dentists assisted
by dental hygienists, dental assistants, and patient advocates.
Supervision of the Dental Program is provided by Dr. Ean
Kleiger, DDS, as a volunteer Director of Dental Services.
Although Dr. Kleiger lives and practices outside of Simi Valley,
he works diligently to improve services of the Clinic's Dental
Program. Through his leadership, the Clinic continues to attract
volunteer dentists, now totaling 14.
High Demand & Long Waits for Dental Care
The Dental Program of the Free Clinic of Simi Valley is the
most in-demand service of the Clinic.
The Free Clinic of Simi Valley is the ONLY free clinic in
Ventura County offering comprehensive dental services to
all marginalized residents. There are no Dental services for
low income children and seniors in East Ventura County!
Three week waits to see a dentist are not uncommon. The
Clinic tries to prioritize those that are in pain.
“Free dental clinic” and “low cost dental” are the top Search
terms on the Clinic’s website, after the Clinic’s hours.
The Free Clinic treats those patients with no health or
dental insurance, which means they have no other option
for emergency and most preventive dental procedures in
the service area or in the county.
Free Clinic 2015 Dental Service Statistics:
3,781 Patient Contacts - A 33.5% Increase over 2014!
Dental Program
Children
According to the 2013 Simi Valley Community Hospital Community
Health Needs Assessment, 9.2% of children in Ventura County have
never been to a dentist. 4% of all county children had not visited
the dentist in the past year.
Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills’ 2013 Community Needs
Assessment (which includes East Ventura County): (1) listed lack of
dental care as number six in the top ten most significant health needs
for the service area among low-income, minority, and medically
underserved populations; (2) indicated that 36% of East Ventura
County’s youth lack dental insurance coverage, which is higher
than the state’s 33%, indicating that this lack of insurance stops
the parents from bringing the children for preventative services such as
routine dental checkups and fluoride varnishes causing higher number
of childhood dental carries in the area, (3) poverty is a barrier to
accessing health care, dental care and other services that are
necessities to lead a healthier life. (4) 12% of children in East Ventura
County live in poverty.
Seniors
Ventura County’s 15,000 low-income seniors who subsist on an
annual income of $11,770 or less in a county where the cost of
living is 165% above the national average. Yet, dental care is vital
to proper nutrition, socialization, and treating debilitating diseases.
45% have untreated cavities; 35% have severe periodontitis, and
33% have endentia – conditions also associated with chronic
diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke, oral cancer, pain
and disability and respiratory diseases. Embarrassment from missing
teeth or ill fitting dentures and halitosis often leads to neglected care
and social isolation.
Oral health effects both length and quality of life. Of Ventura County’s
approximately 165,000 seniors, 10% cannot afford dental treatment
and/or have unaddressed advanced oral disease. Medicare
provides no dental coverage. Only 2% of Ventura County seniors have
private dental insurance.
The Free Clinic’s dental professionals and administrators estimate that
the percentage of low income seniors in our service area lacking
usable dental coverage is close to 85%. Based on actual income,
low income adults and seniors in our service area lack the mean to pay
for dental work out of pocket.
My heartfelt appreciation to all dentists, assistants and staff of the Free Clinic
Dental Clinic in Simi Valley. My mouth was in much need of the repair and it
was not easy to smile without showing defective teeth. Thanks for giving me
my smile back and to make chewing food enjoyable once again. Many
heavens blessings always be yours. — C.S.
Thank you so much for helping me at the Simi Valley Free Clinic. My mouth
hurt so badly and it was so embarrassing to smile. I felt I had all day long and
even lost too much weight because it hurt so bad to eat. You gave me hope. I
was so happy to finally have the teeth extracted and cannot wait for my partial
[denture]. You have no idea what a difference it is making already.
— Anonymous
Thank you to the doctors, the dental assistants and especially OLGA!! What a
wonderful and fulfilling experience. Every dental challenge that I experienced
was handled so professionally and with exacting concern and compassion.
The overall experience was an awesome hit, a home run, an 11 on a 10 scale.
Mahalo [Hawaiian for “Thank You” - Thank you Olga - No Ka Oi [Hawaiian for
the “The Best”] from the Entire Mouth a Grandiose Success — Anonymous
I would like to thank the doctors and staff of the Free Dental Clinic of Simi
Valley. I am so very grateful for all you have done for me. I have always been
afraid of going to the dentist but after my first visit they made me feel
extremely comfortable. Some of the nicest people I’ve met are the dentist and
staff of the Free Clinic of Simi Valley. You guys rock! Please continue to do
the amazing job that you are doing. I am forever grateful. Thanks again! All
the best! — Anonymous
Thank you so very much for your generous support! Because of your
contribution my 14 year-old daughter was able to get the fillings that she
needs. We didn’t know where to go when she was told she had 6 cavities.
We don’t have the means to cover this kind of expense. A friend told us to
check out the Dental Clinic and I’m so glad that we are here! In our life, it’s a
challenge to make ends meet and we are so grateful to the people who make
the Clinic run. It’s a blessing to have so many people care. — C.W.
Just A Few Dental Client Testimonials