CLINIC KEEPS KIDS SMILING FREE DENTAL CARE AVAILABLE AGAIN TO WORKING-CLASS FAMILIES.

Byline: Helen Gao Staff Writer

BURBANK - When Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center reclaimed the space that once housed the Children's Dental Clinic in 1998, volunteer dental hygienist Carole Nese had worried that was the end for the nonprofit facility serving uninsured children.

But in the past few years, the tenacious work of Nese and others helped the clinic reopen Friday with a new name - the Kids' Community Clinic of Burbank - on the second floor of a new wing of the YMCA.

``We got a lot of wonderful support from the community and Burbank,'' said Nese, now president of the clinic's board of directors.

The hospital donated the dental equipment, the YMCA gave the space to house the clinic and Peterson Dental Supply offered the office equipment and renovation design services.

Warner Bros. studio sent artists over to paint Looney Tunes characters on the wall. The city and the state, as well as the Burbank chapter of the National Charity League, provided funding.

Altogether, the community donated up to $140,000 to pay for the start-up costs of the clinic, said Nese.

On the morning of its first day, Burbank dentist Henry Hunt - one of many volunteers who staff the clinic - saw nine patients. He works at his own practice Monday through Thursday and devotes Fridays to the clinic.

``It's my day off. It's my day to play,'' joked Hunt, who started volunteering for the clinic in 1968 - when Saint Joseph was still run by nuns. ``I enjoy what I am doing. It's a payback (to the community) ... This is something I do that not too many people can.''

One of Hunt's first patients was Eduardo Abarca, 10, from Los Angeles, who had two badly abscessed baby teeth removed, and one decayed tooth treated and filled.

Eduardo's condition, said Hunt, is somewhat typical in children who used to visit the clinic at the hospital.

``I literally knew kids that didn't have toothbrushes. I remember one time a kid told me he shared toothbrushes with his siblings,'' said Hunt.

The child's mother found out about the clinic from a television announcement.

``At a regular doctor, it's $2,000. It's too much money,'' said his mom, America Abarca, who does not have dental insurance.

Except for part-time office manager Shirley Heuer, who doubles as a dental assistant, the entire facility is staffed by volunteers, who provide professional service throughout the week as a private clinic would.

Patients who meet eligibility guidelines pay a nominal fee of $10 for X-rays, cleanings and fillings. The guidelines restrict service to those who don't have private or government insurance and can't afford dental care.

Nese said the goal of the clinic is to help working families who are not poor enough to qualify for government help and yet cannot afford private insurance.

``This clinic is for blue collar families who work two or three jobs,'' she said. ``They don't want handouts and don't qualify for DentalCal.

``They want to provide for their families, but they just don't have the money to provide everything.''

In the future, in addition to dental care, the clinic plans to offer referral services for other health needs at reduced costs for its patients. The goal of the clinic is to serve about 2,000 children each year - twice the number at the old site.

``We want this clinic to be a model prototype clinic,'' said Nese.

Eventually, the clinic plans to hire an additional administrator and a fund-raiser. The long-term survival of the facility, Nese said, depends on its ability to secure grants and other types of funding.

The annual operating cost of the clinic is estimated at $150,000. Liability insurance alone costs the facility about $10,000 each year.

``Even though it looks like everyone donates everything, we still have costs,'' said Nese.

The Kids' Community Clinic can be reached at [phone]. Donations can be sent to: The Burbank YMCA, c/o The Kids' Community Clinic, 321 East Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA 91502.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Ramon Boghozian, 12, gets two fillings from dentist Henry Hunt with help from dental assistant Shirley Heuer at the free dental clinic.

(2) Patient Ramon Boghozian shows off his smile after a checkup and two fillings at the Kids' Community Clinic of Burbank on Friday.

Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer