HIV Alliance given dental care grant.

Byline: Andrea Damewood The Register-Guard

When most people imagine the treatment of HIV, maintaining a shining set of pearly whites probably doesn't jump to mind.

Yet, because dental health affects general health, the HIV Alliance of Eugene has received a $2 million federal grant this fall to create a model low-cost dental clinic for those who are HIV positive, said Renee Yandel, director of client services at the HIV Alliance.

"Studies have shown that oral health has been linked with overall health, and that's just in the general population," Yandel said. "If you extrapolate that to someone living with a chronic disease, you see how important it is."

The grant will join the HIV Alliance with Lane Community College and Community Health Centers of Lane County to provide services that will range from standard cleanings to heavy duty work. The clinic could be in operation by the end of December, Yandel said.

The HIV Alliance will refer patients to the clinic, located at LCC, where the dental program has 18 patient chairs and six X-ray rooms, plus a college full of students who need hands-on knowledge.

"We are always looking for ways for our students to treat patients," said Sharon Hagan, dental hygiene program coordinator at LCC. "We're always seeking experiences that students will have in real-life dentistry."

Clients will have to pay for most dental work, but on a sliding scale based on their income.

Currently, the HIV Alliance receives about $30,000 a year in federal funds to help its 200 clients with dental expenses, at full market price, Yandel said. Usually, the money runs out by May.

"We've only really been able to provide crisis care," Yandel said. "We should be able to provide about three times the care by having this clinic partnered with LCC. That's why we think it's a good model, we can leverage student work to cut costs."

Students will do diagnostic and preventive work, using masks, barriers, gloves and other tools to prevent the spread of HIV.

The grant, which will provide $400,000 a year over five years, also provides money for the clinic to hire three or four dentists who will do restorative procedures, Hagan said.

The grant is one of 15 awarded nationwide by the federal Health Resource Services Administration under the Ryan White CARE Act - which addresses the unmet health care needs of HIV patients - and the only one given in the Pacific Northwest.

People with HIV are living much longer than they used to, Hagan said, and many of them are unable to pay for their oral health because they are often too ill to work or are spending all of their income on medications and other expenses.

But dental health is actually a vital part of remaining healthy, Yandel said. HIV increases the risk of getting bad infections, including those in the mouth.

"For us to not look at the oral health piece would be to not see the whole picture," she said.

"A lack of oral health makes it difficult to adhere to a medication regimen. It deteriorates their nutrition; if they have rotten or lost teeth, they can't eat nutritious, full meals."

After using the first year to get on its feet, Hagan said, the program will look to expand to serve HIV and low-income patients in the southern half of the state.

While those with HIV will have priority, the grant provides the infrastructure to help rural populations that have limited access to affordable care.

"There are a lot of little tiny dental clinics in rural Oregon, and we want to find a way to partner with them," Hagan said, perhaps by renting out space and using the dentists hired with grant money.

Also in the second year, one hope is to begin offering transportation to the clinic, both from across town or from places as far as Klamath Falls.

"We're so excited to provide service to a variety of people in society," she said.

"There are people who have a great need - who have pain and need an extraction, have pain and need a root canal - and this will be one more option."