Ribbon Cutting: New Dental Facilities For Coweta Samaritan Clinic

Ribbon cutting photo: Kevin Brazie/Pork Pie Pictures

Content from the Coweta Samaritan Clinic

The Coweta Samaritan Clinic began seeing patients in our new onsite Dental Services wing in July 2025. This new onsite service expands upon the offsite dental care we have offered in partnership with the Central Educational Center and West Georgia Technical College since 2013. We are currently seeing Coweta Samaritan Clinic patients two days a week as we work to recruit more volunteer dentists for the program.

We have hired a part-time Dental Services Coordinator, Lynn Chavez, RDH, who is responsible for coordinating clinical operations, scheduling, managing volunteers, and ensuring seamless patient experiences. As we work to expand our onsite services in the future (from two to four days per week) and engage more volunteer dentists, hygienists, and assistants, her role becomes even more essential.

Our Dental Services program provides comprehensive dental care including exams, cleanings, periodontal treatments, restorations, and extractions. More complex cases are referred to local specialists. For many of our uninsured and low-income adult patients, this is the only dental care they have ever received.

Our goals for the program are:

Expand Service Availability from Two to Four Days per Week

Action: Increase the number of onsite dental clinic days from two to four.

Rationale: Patient demand for dental care currently exceeds available appointment slots.

Outcome: Doubling clinic days will increase patient access and reduce wait times, allowing us to serve at least 150 additional patients annually.

Grow Our Network of Volunteer Providers

Action: Recruit and coordinate additional volunteer dentists, hygienists, and assistants.

Rationale: Volunteers are essential to program sustainability, and expanding this network is key to meeting patient needs.

Outcome: A broader volunteer base will allow us to offer more comprehensive services while maintaining cost-efficiency.

Improve Operational Efficiency and Patient Coordination

Action: Streamline scheduling, follow-up care, and referrals through centralized coordination.

Rationale: A dedicated coordinator ensures smooth clinic operations and better continuity of care.

• Outcome: Improved patient experience, better clinical outcomes, and fewer missed or delayed appointments.

These targeted actions will strengthen our infrastructure and allow us to meet a growing need for dental care in our community. In doing so, we will help more uninsured adults receive critical dental services that alleviate pain, prevent complications, and support overall health and well-being.

PHOTOS FROM THE RIBBON CUTTING (Click on the photo which you want to view, then click again to enlarge the photo.)