Dental Services
Healthcare Services
An Integral Part of Maintaining Health and Wellness
Dental is a crucial, but often overlooked, component of overall health. Those experiencing homelessness and low-income persons who live in Lower North Philadelphia have traditionally had few options for oral care services. Dental Services at Stephen Klein Wellness Center (SKWC) offer year-round, sliding fee scale care, restoring oral health and eliminating pain, but also restoring smiles so that patients can chew comfortably, speak without limitation, and smile freely.
SKWC partners with the Endodontics Department at Einstein Hospital to provide low– or no-cost tooth preservation in order to save teeth rather than extract them due to lack of coverage for root canals by insurance.
Working in tandem with our medical and behavioral health teams, dental is a key piece of Project HOME’s integrated model, providing whole-person healthcare.
Each year, over 4,000 individuals access dental services, including:
- Cleanings
- Fillings
- Extractions
- Crowns
- Dentures
- Periodontics
- Endodontics
- Oral Surgery
- Emergency Services
- Diagnostic, Preventative, and Restorative Care
For example, blood pressure screenings are conducted during dental visits, oral health education is provided to Centering Pregnancy groups, and specialized dental recommendations are made for patients in our Medication Assisted Treatment program. Our integrated model of care facilitates access and quick referral to dental care when patients come to the SKWC for medical appointments. Connections to care are also made from the case managers at Project HOME residences and Street Outreach teams.
Endodontics at Project HOME
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Project HOME's Healthcare Services is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and we are able to provide our services regardless of a person’s ability to pay for the services. In cases where an individual lacks health insurance, we offer a discounted sliding fee program.
Project HOME receives HHS funding and has Federal Public Health Service (PHS) deemed status with respect to certain health or health-related claims including medical malpractice claims for itself and its covered individuals.
Additional Information
Call 215-320-6187 and select Option #3 to make an appointment.
Hours
Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
We currently accept the insurances listed below, as well as individuals who have no insurance.
- Medicaid
- Keystone First
- Keystone VIP Choice
- Keystone CHC
- Health Partners
- Health Partners Medicare
- PA Health & Wellness
- UPMC CHC
New uninsured patients should also complete the forms below:
You can now request your medical records from the Stephen Klein Wellness Center online. Log into the patient portal.
Q: How often do I need dental x-rays and why?
A: A full set of x-rays will be taken at your initial visit with us, and then every three to five years another full set is taken. Every six months to a year, a smaller set of images is taken so we can look the between the teeth for cavities and evaluate your bone level to detect gum disease. Individual films may be taken as needed for areas or teeth that are symptomatic and may be updated periodically.
Q: Can I fill out my information online before my appointment?
A: Our new patient forms are available under the “forms” tab of our website. You can print these forms and bring them to our office at your first visit.
Q: What information do I need to bring to my first appointment?
A: When you come, be sure to think about any previous dental health history. To provide the best care for our patients, we will also need a complete medical history. Please bring any records containing details of medical conditions or lists of medication. Your dental insurance information will be obtained before your first visit, but please be sure to bring your insurance card so we can make a copy for our records. We also recommend that you bring your driver’s license and/or Social Security card if possible.
Q: Can I schedule multiple family members at once?
A: We ask that you only schedule up to two people at one time. We do this to ensure that you get the best available care possible and that every visit includes a comprehensive exam and time with a member of our team. In case of emergency or last minute cancelation, please call our office so that we can offer the appointments to another patient in need of care.
Q: What happens if I am late to my appointment?
A: If you are more than 15 minutes late, this may count as a missed appointment. Appointments are scheduled with the amount of time that we need to complete each dental procedure. To ensure you receive the best care, we don’t provide rushed treatment. If there is time in the schedule, we may be able to see you, or you may wait to see if another patient misses their appointment. If no time frees up, we will ask that you reschedule your appointment for another time.
Q: What’s your policy for missed appointments?
A: We value you as our patient and need your cooperation with keeping appointments so that we can provide your care. Missing or canceling an appointment with less than 24 hours notice means that we are unable to fill this appointment time with another patient who desperately needs care. Patients may only miss up to three appointments before being placed on a same-day or next-day list. This means that if you miss three appointments, you can only schedule the day before or the same day if there are openings in our schedule. Many patients use our dental services. Your help in keeping your appointments enables us to provide better and timelier care for all of our patients.
Q: Do I need to accompany my child to an appointment?
A: By law, we cannot see children (ages 0 – 18 years old) without a parent or legal guardian. You need to remain in our building throughout the duration of your child’s visit. You may come back into the treatment areas during hygiene visits, but we will ask you to wait in the waiting room during treatment visits. We have found that this allows children to build their trust with the dental team, and it also protects the privacy of other patients receiving treatment.
Q: Can I bring my child with me to my appointment?
A: To enable our dental team to provide the best care for you, we request that you do not bring your children (ages 0 – 18 years) to your appointments. Alternatively, you may bring along a friend or family member to watch them while you are receiving treatment. Our staff works hard to provide you with the best care, and they are unable to care for you and your dental needs while also watching children.
