
Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program receives HHS funding and has Federal PHS deemed status with respect to certain health or health-related claims, including medical malpractice claims, for itself and its covered individuals.
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For people experiencing homelessness, the prevalence of oral disease is high—one study showed that 72% of homeless patients had a history of tooth loss, compared with 54% of the general population—and the ability to access treatment is low. The myriad concerns of daily survival take priority over oral health, until the need is urgent; and when it is, it can be incredibly challenging to find a trusted dentist. Untreated dental issues are linked with other medical issues as serious as diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, and can also harm mental and emotional wellbeing, nutrition, speech, and more.
For decades, BHCHP has been a trusted source of oral health care for people experiencing homelessness, as well as a trainer of dental students passionate about social justice. As we deliver routine exams, deep cleanings, and emergency care, we see firsthand how dental care opens doors, helping patients alleviate pain, rebuild their self-esteem, expand job opportunities, and reconnect with loved ones. All patients deserve to have their smiles–and health–restored.
BHCHP’s dental team works to make specialized oral health care easy to come by in the context of the myriad challenges and competing priorities of homelessness. Our full-time, six-chair dental clinic at Jean Yawkey Place provides walk-in appointments every day for patients in need of urgent care and those who couldn’t schedule in advance. Priority is given to inpatients at the Barbara McInnis House, our 104-bed medical respite facility, and to primary care patients at greater risk of dental disease. We also work closely with other sites around the city to coordinate dental appointments and support patients with transportation and language needs.
BHCHP provides preventative care and treatment, including routine exams, cleanings, emergency care, periodontal treatment (deep cleanings), restorative treatment (fillings), extractions, and dentures (partial and complete). We also provide consultations and referrals to other specialty providers if patients need more advanced care.
But our most effective treatment tool isn’t a filling or a set of dentures–it’s our relationships with patients. From the clinic to the streets, our staff takes the time to get to know patients on a personal level, learning about their stories and goals and earning their trust. This relationship-building allows us to provide the care best suited to their needs and to center the patient throughout.
Our impact extends far beyond the walls of our dental clinics. Through partnerships with four dental schools in the Boston area, we train the next generation of dentists in a holistic, patient-centered approach. Our dental health providers work with senior dental students to develop their clinical skills, along with their understanding of the connections between homelessness and health. This work exposes students to an integrated model of care that centers the patient and offers our program as a model for helping people experiencing homelessness access the high-quality dental care they need and deserve.
“Many patients begin to focus on their oral health when other aspects of their life have begun to stabilize and they want to start taking care of their mouth: they want to be healthier, out of pain, able to chew, able to smile. They want to reconnect with family, or look for work, or feel like themselves again. It’s powerful and beautiful to witness, and it’s a real gift to be able to help them along their path.”
Colleen Anderson, DDS, Dental Director
The best way to make an appointment is to call us at 857-654-1605.
This phone line is answered Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm.
Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program receives HHS funding and has Federal PHS deemed status with respect to certain health or health-related claims, including medical malpractice claims, for itself and its covered individuals.