
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, November 18, 1995                   TAG: 9511200089
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

BRIEFLY PUT . . .

TO SET the record straight: The Roanoke Health Department has not dropped its dental program, as stated in an editorial Friday. It has had to interrupt the service since its dentist left. It plans to hire another, and even expand dental services.

Even before its dentist left, the program was serving only a fraction of school-age children who need it. Dr. Molly Rutledge, the health director, says the department would like to convert the part-time hourly dental work in its budget to a second full-time position.

The city of Roanoke, to its credit, recently bought a new, equipped dental chair (cost: $27,000) for the program.

All of which is the good news. The bad news is that, even if it gets state approval to expand its service, the city's health department will not be able to provide dentistry to all the children who need it - much less to adults. The department had been able to work in only a few adults who had emergencies.

The Bradley Free Clinic provides dental care for the uninsured and underinsured. But many in our region without insurance or the money to see a private dentist still are going without care.

by CNB