Full article on the San Juan County, WA  website (October 4, 2024)

 More clinic dates have been added on Orcas Island to address the long wait list of patients who have applied for dental care at Community Dental Clinics. The current wait lists are three to four times the capacity of available appointments which highlights the great need for dental care in our community. 

Community Dental Clinics were created on Orcas and San Juan Island this year to meet the needs of children and adults on Apple Health (Medicaid) or uninsured and unable to afford dental care. So far, these clinics have seen 235 patients and provided over $103,000 worth of comprehensive dental care! Dental care available at these clinics includes dental exams, x-rays, hygiene services, extractions, fillings, and dentures.  

Community Dental Clinics are a result of committed partnerships between San Juan County Health & Community Services, Orcas Island Health Care District, Orcas Island Community Foundation, Orcas Community Resource Center, Fish for Teeth, and the incredible dental teams at DentALL and San Juan Island Dental. We would like to give a huge thank you to Orcas Island Fire & Rescue for hosting the clinics in 2024, to Marsha Waunch for her tireless work with volunteer coordination and dental team logistics, and Mercy Flights for bringing our dental team from Bellingham to Orcas and back each clinic day.  

If you are in need of dental treatment and on Apple Health or uninsured and unable to afford care, you can fill out an online application and the Dental Access Coordinator will reach out to you to schedule an appointment. If you are having trouble filling out the application online, please call OCRC 360-376-3184 or the Health Department at 360-378-4474 and we will be happy to assist you. Please note that we have long wait lists, but we are working hard to help everyone access care. 

All Community Dental Clinics have Spanish-speaking bilingual team members. The upcoming clinic dates for Orcas Island are:   

• October: 25, 26
• November: 1, 2, 22, 23
• December: 6, 7, 20, 21

Community Dental Clinics are also available on San Juan Island thanks to HCS’s partnership with Fish for Teeth and San Juan Island Dental. Upcoming clinic dates for San Juan Island are:  

• November 8, 2024
• February 21, 2025
• May 16, 2025
• August 1, 2025
• November 14, 2025

Lopez, Shaw, and other island residents are welcome to travel to Friday Harbor or Orcas Community Dental Clinics. If you need access to dental care, please fill out an online application and a staff member from HCS or OCRC will call you to schedule an appointment.