01 July 2025

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DentaQuest Funds Expanded Oral Health Access

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DentaQuest, part of Sun Life U.S., recently announced it has provided $10,000 to Greenville Free Medical Clinic to grow the availability of services at the Oral Health Department for both low-income adults diagnosed with cancer and uninsured Greenville County schoolchildren without regular access to a dentist.

This program expansion targets two specific high-need populations who do not generally qualify for all free clinic services. Low-income adults diagnosed with cancer will be identified and referred by patient navigators and oncologists from both local hospital systems—Prisma Health and Bon Secours Mercy Health—while uninsured Greenville County schoolchildren will be identified and referred by the hospitals’ pediatric or family medicine providers, school nurses, social workers, and community outreach teams.

“In addition to creating unnecessary and potentially life-altering pain and infection, poor oral health and dental disease impact our general well-being—from increased school absences among young children, resulting in lower academic performance, to systemic conditions like cancer, resulting in delayed treatment for issues like existing infection and painful side effects from chemo- or radiation therapy, such as mouth sores and inflammation,” said Dr. Todd Gray, chief dental officer for Sun Life U.S. Dental, including DentaQuest. “By focusing on these two high-need groups, Greenville Free Medical Clinic is closing important gaps, and we are proud to support expanding access to oral healthcare that ultimately ensures improved overall health for these Greenville residents.”

Greenville Free Medical Clinic’s dental program provides more than 5,000 separate procedures annually, with over 1,000 patient visits. These services are conservatively valued at nearly $1 million annually and are provided without charge to eligible low-income, uninsured Greenville County residents. Aligned with DentaQuest’s vision for optimal oral healthcare, Greenville Free Medical Clinic relies on medical-dental integration—including case managers and pharmacy staff—focusing on person-centered care for improved outcomes and overall well-being.

Clinic leaders will use the funds to purchase necessary small equipment, make refurbishments to accommodate donated equipment, obtain pediatric and adult disposable dental supplies, replenish gas for sedation, and hire staff to extend clinic hours.

About DentaQuest

Sun Life U.S. Dental, which includes DentaQuest, is dedicated to improving the oral health of all through purpose-driven, outcomes-based solutions. We make dental benefits better for everyone through Preventistry® – an inclusive approach centered on preventive, quality care, expanded access and solutions built on valued relationships across the health care ecosystem. We manage dental and vision benefits for approximately 35 million Americans. For 30 years, we have delivered cost-effective benefit plans and services for employer groups, individuals, health plans, and government-sponsored dental programs. We are the largest Medicaid and CHIP dental benefits administrator in the U.S., by membership. We also support direct patient care through an expanding network of approximately 75 dental practices in underserved communities across the United States.

Source: www.dentaquest.com