Dental care is one of the most common gaps older adults face. Medicare doesn't cover routine dental services, and for many members on a fixed income, a simple cleaning or checkup can be out of reach. That's why our partnership with NYU College of Dentistry has become such a valued part of life at the Bill Dionne Luncheon Club.
This week, NYU dental students set up at the Luncheon Club and worked through the morning, seeing 16 members for screenings and care. The clinic was supervised by Drs. Reginald G. Moncrieff and Ginette Lamarre, who guided students through each exam and made sure every participant left with a clear picture of their oral health and next steps if further treatment was needed.
For members, the clinic means one less barrier between them and good health: no insurance paperwork, no travel across the city, just a familiar room at their own senior center. For NYU's students, it's hands-on experience working with an older adult population, building the kind of bedside manner that only comes from real practice.
It's a simple, recurring event, but its impact adds up. Oral health is tied closely to nutrition, overall health, and even social confidence. A person who's self-conscious about their teeth is less likely to smile, to eat well, to engage. Clinics like this one are part of what keeps our members healthy, connected, and coming through the Luncheon Club's doors.
Thank you to Drs. Moncrieff and Lamarre, and to the NYU dental students, for another great clinic.
