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Portland Community Dental Clinic in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.
Supporting the residents of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside neighbourhood, the Portland Community Dental Clinic treats, on average, 8-12 patients per day, four days a week, with two staff dentists.
The Portland Community Dental Clinic has been open for seven years with a high volume of emergency walk-in care, being consistent with how the Downtown Eastside population accesses health services.
Dr. Sean Siklorski and his team work in close association with many of the other Downtown Eastside services, including detox facilities, shelters, rehabilitation and job training programs. Very often when people enter rehab/detox programs their need for oral health care is vital. The effects of narcotic abuse and addiction can cause traumatic oral decay and infection that must be treated. Patients in job training programs are eligible to receive care that may not be covered by MSSH to help them re-enter the work force.
The clinic also works closely with the BC Cancer Agency doing an oral screening project. An unusually high rate of oral cancer has been detected in the neighbourhood and recently we have worked to help launch a mobile oral cancer screening project to reach residents who may not come to the clinic.