Dr. Jessica Dubek believes oral hygiene is paramount to a healthy life.
As the founder of DentALL, a practice committed to expanding access to dental care to those who might otherwise go without, Dubek travels around western Washington, providing free dental services.
Since October, she and her team have been contracted to operate the Community Dental Clinic on Orcas Island at 1268 Mt. Baker Road. There is a waitlist, and the practice accepts, on average, 25 new patients a month. Dubek also brings her mobile dental van to visit the preschools and Orcas Island School District for exams.
“We are trying to ensure we see the whole family,” she said.
Poor oral health is linked to various systemic health issues, including heart disease, diabetes and adverse pregnancy outcomes, underscoring the critical need for accessible dental care.
The Orcas Island Community Foundation launched a community dental program in 2012 after learning that dental care was the number one issue for county residents living at or below the federal poverty level. According to the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, in 2021, poorer families paid 7.4 times more out-of-pocket expenditures for dental care compared to high-income families.
OICF partnered with Medical Teams International to bring a mobile clinic to the island four times a year. Staffed by local dental professionals, it provided care to around 130 residents a year. By the end of its time serving Orcas, Medical Teams International helped more than 700 patients.
In 2023, OICF worked with San Juan County Health, the Orcas Island Health Care District, the Orcas Community Resource Center and volunteer Marsha Waunch to develop a new plan to serve more patients. They brought Dubek and her staff on board, and after holding appointments at the Eastsound Fire Station, the clinic moved into a dedicated space in November.
Orcas Mercy Flight pilots fly Dubek and her team to and from Bellingham. The clinic is open on Tuesdays and the first and third Friday and Saturday of the month. The practice serves children and adults on Apple Health (Medicaid) as well as those who are uninsured. Offerings include oral health exams, X-rays, fillings, tooth extractions and preventative and emergent care. The clinic also has a staff member who speaks Spanish.
The program is funded by donations secured by OICF, Health Care District funds and increasingly by billing Medicaid and insurance. Over time, the Health Care District hopes to sustain the majority of the program financially.
To access dental clinic services, learn more on the San Juan County Health Department website at https://www.sanjuancountywa.gov/2063/Dental-Clinics or contact the Orcas Community Resource Center at 360-376-3184. For information on DentALL, visit https://www.wearedentall.com/.
