PRASAD Sees 40 Percent Jump in Patients as Affordable Dental Care in Sullivan County Lags
Radio Chatskill · Various hosts
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Show Notes
Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessing high-quality dental care is already difficult for low-income families. But in rural communities, the need is even greater, where limited public transportation and a shortage of dental providers make care even more challenging to find.
Liberty-based dental hygiene nonprofit PRASAD saw a 40 percent increase in children patients from 2023 to 2024 after they expanded their mobile clinics in Sullivan County, says PRASAD’s Executive Director Dr. Cecilia Escarra. Still, she’s worried that a stigma around dental care and limited available providers serving low-income patients continues to stagnate access.
Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with PRASAD’s Executive Director Dr. Cecilia Escarra about their work.