IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Dental health is an important necessity, but it’s not always easy for everyone to access.
The Community Council of Idaho (CCI) wanted to address the cost of dental health by opening a dental clinic called Community Family Clinics in December of 2023 to help lower-income families receive the care they need.
CCI’s CEO Irma Morin said, "Idaho is the state that has a lot of counties that has a shortage in dental services."
It’s affecting a specific community in Bonneville County.
"Primarily the farming community, low-income individuals. And again, those individuals that have Medicaid," Morin said.
More specifically, Morin said it’s mainly affecting the Hispanic and Latino communities.
Idaho Fall’s population is 68,898 according to the latest Census report. 16.6% of the population are Hispanic. Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs reported 1,437 people in Bonneville County are farmworkers.
"Generally, dental is not a priority in that community,” Morin said.
Community Family Clinic’s Admin Arnold Cantu said there are barriers that make it hard for that community to access healthcare. The barriers include time, money, and lack of health insurance.
"You have to decide, well, do I need to go to the dentist, or do I need to put food on the table today? That’s the hard question these people have to make,” Cantu said.
That hard question results in that community not receiving dental services. In December, CCI opened a location in Idaho Falls to help fill the gap.
"Right now, we're open for business, and people are coming in,” Cantu said.
Even before the facility opened, Cantu said they had about 50 people on the waitlist. That number jumped to more than 100 after the grand opening.
“That waiting list is down to like 55 now, but it's still a waiting list,” Cantu said.
Delta Dental awarded CCI a $50,000 grant to help provide more resources to the new clinic.
Delta Dental’s Community Outreach Manager, Shaina Calles, said, "It's very meaningful for us to see the potential impact in this region in Idaho that has a great need.”
Cantu said most of that money will go towards getting high-quality equipment.
“It’s to treat these patients at a high quality and low-cost service,” she said.
Cantu said services like those provided at the new clinic help more than just the patient.
"Which in turn, leads lets them have better health, better health outcomes, which leads them to be better consumers, better citizens, and better engaged in community activities,” she said.
Watch more Local News:
See the latest news from around the Treasure Valley and the Gem State in our YouTube playlist:
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET NEWS FROM KTVB:
Download the KTVB News Mobile App
Apple iOS: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Watch news reports for FREE on YouTube: KTVB YouTube channel
Stream Live for FREE on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching 'KTVB'.
Stream Live for FREE on FIRE TV: Search ‘KTVB’ and click ‘Get’ to download.