Lorain County Health & Dentistry

Lorain County Health & Dentistry (LCH&D) is a community health center providing primary and preventive medical and dental care to all persons based on their ability to pay. The center is the only safety net provider of medical and dental care in the county. LCH&D is the only provider of Medicaid dental services to children aged zero to eighteen months (we provide anticipatory guidance and fluoride varnish applications as soon as the child has teeth) in Lorain County and the only Medicaid provider accepting new patients for dental services of any age in the city of Lorain.

The dental clinic began operations on February 1, 2005, with significant funds from the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Oral Health Section “Access to Dental Care Program”, as well as tremendous local support (Nord Family Foundation, Stocker Foundation and Community Foundation of Lorain County). LCH&D opened with five operatories and recently, using ODH funds, its eighth and final operatory was added to aid access to care and increase efficiency.

The LCH&D dental program provides comprehensive general dentistry to persons of all ages. Services include examinations, radiographs, cleanings, fluoride treatments, sealants, emergency care (including minor extractions, pain relief and trauma) and fillings. Complete and partial dentures will soon be offered.

Laura Gushue, D.M.D., joined the team in July 2006 as the Dental Director. In addition to treating patients four days per week, Dr. Gushue is responsible for the clinical care provided in the dental clinic and supervises the dental team. She is joined by a part-time general dentist, Karen Kirby, D.D.S., and a contracted pediatric dentist, Dr. Sonja Jarmoszuk. Dr. Kirby works in the clinic three days per week, while Dr. Jarmoszuk works one day each month in addition to providing dental services one day per week in the operating room at a local hospital. The dentists are supported by two part-time hygienists, three assistants, one receptionist and a billing clerk. There clinic currently has positions open for a full-time and part-time dentist.

LCH&D is proud to be on the cutting edge by utilizing a mid-level provider, an Oral Preventive Assistant (OPA) to improve access to care and to help become a self-sustaining dental clinic. OPA services include partnering with the dentists and hygienist to perform coronal polishing, oral hygiene education, anticipatory guidance and placement of sealants. She has a full schedule of patients two and a half days per week treating patients age 8 and under.

LCH&D recently became federally funded as part of President Obama's stimulus package. Prior to that time the clinic came very close to being forced to close and leave 13,000 patients (4,000 dental patients) without an established medical or dental home. As a result, LCH&D was honored to be spotlighted on the PBS news program, “The Jim Lehrer News Hour” on Tuesday May 22, 2009. Check out the story and extended footage at www.pbs.org/newshour, keyword “Health Centers.”

Website maintained by the National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center, in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Health, Oral Health Program.