Tyrrell County will have a new dental clinic coming in early 2014.“The clinic will serve adults and children.  There is no geographical designation for those who can make appointments there.  Restorative and prevention services will be offered.  The only service that will not be available is dental implants.  We will accept all insurance, Medicaid, and self pay as reimbursement,” said Kathleen DeVore Jones, Health Director of the Martin-Tyrrell-Washington District Health Department.

For persons who are self pay (don’t have insurance or Medicaid) a sliding scale will be used for fees based on their family income.  Lab fees (for crowns and dentures) will not slide, as these are costs the dental clinic has to bear.  But services will slide to 40 percent of fees based on proof of family income.

 “That is the difference between our clinic and others in the area.  Not only are we more accessible, we are more affordable.  Our popular Dental Clinic in Plymouth at 198 NC Highway 45 North which offers services only to children up to 19 years old, has been established since 2004, and is open five days per week.  Our fees and the sliding scale that we use are the same for both clinics.  We provide quality services to all comers, just as we do in our health clinics in the three counties.  Our clinicians are experienced and well-qualified,” said Devore Jones.

 Devore Jones said her department has requested that Golden LEAF provide reimbursement for about $244,000 that MTW spent on remodeling, purchase and installation of large dental equipment, and purchase of dental tools and supplies.

The Health Department has laid out another $30,000 in office and computer supplies and equipment.
“We will also be responsible for paying utilities, insurance, salaries, travel and training of employees, and ongoing communications support.  Tyrrell County is allowing us to use the building on designated days and will be responsible for building and ground maintenance,” she said.

 After an Open House on Dec. 12, from 1 pm to 3 pm, the clinic staff will start making appointments just for Fridays starting Jan. 9.

“By February, we hope to expand to Wednesdays as well as Fridays.  After these appointments are full, we will operate one more day each week, either on Monday or Thursday,” said Devore Jones.

Staff reporting to work in the Tyrrell Clinic on those days will be a dentist, a dental hygienist, a dental assistant, and a clerk or the dental clinic administrator.  Staff will be shared with the Plymouth location.  Appointments will be made by telephone anytime during the week because the phone system will be connected to the clinic in Plymouth to take calls when staff is not present in the Columbia location.