Tuesday, May 19, 2015
You have heard it a million times, probably from your parents growing up. Brush your teeth.
On Tuesday I was given the opportunity to photograph patients at the Mercy Care Dental Clinic off of Decatur St. in Atlanta. Mercy Care provides low income and homeless clients with affordable health care including dentistry. I sat in while clients were given exams, teeth cleanings and in some cases some teeth pulling.
Four and a half million Georgians lack dental insurance, and many of them haven’t seen a dentist in decades. The Affordable Care Act aimed to change that, and more than 84,000 Georgians enrolled one of 25 stand-alone dental plans in 2014. Yet dental care was not considered one of the law’s “essential benefits,” and so offerings from insurers were varied. Of the 91 medical policies that included dental benefits, there’s an array of deductibles, out-of-pocket expenses and premiums.
Dr. Katrina Schuler-Bacon (right) takes a look at Marcet Love’s dental history at Mercy Care’s dental clinic off of Decatur St. in Atlanta on Tuesday, May 19, 2015. Schuler-Bacon and her assistant DaJanea Rogers (left) had to pull one of Love’s teeth during his visit to the clinic.
Dr. Katrina Schuler-Bacon (left) examines Marcet Love’s teeth during a visit to Mercy Care’s dental clinic at their facility off of Decatur St. in Atlanta on Tuesday, May 19, 2015. Love had a tooth pulled during his visit to the clinic.
DaJanea Rogers (right) sets up an x-ray machine to take a look at Andre Bencent’s teeth during a visit to Mercy Care’s dental clinic at their facility off of Decatur St. in Atlanta on Tuesday, May 19, 2015. Bencent’s remaining teeth will have to be pulled and he will hopefully be fitted for dentures.
Andre Bencent (right) has his teeth examined by Dr. Katrina Schuler-Bacon during a visit to Mercy Care’s dental clinic at their facility off of Decatur St. in Atlanta on Tuesday, May 19, 2015. Bencent’s remaining teeth will have to be pulled and he will hopefully be fitted for dentures.
Dr. Katrina Schuler-Bacon fills a prescription for one of her patients at Mercy Care’s dental clinic off of Decatur St. in Atlanta on Tuesday, May 19, 2015.
Deenay Vestal (center) waits for final instructions from Dr. Katrina Schuler-Bacon (left) and Vickie Francis during a visit to Mercy Care’s dental clinic at their facility off of Decatur St. in Atlanta on Tuesday, May 19, 2015. Vestal received two prescriptions for a wisdom tooth that is cutting through her gums.
Dr. Katrina Schuler-Bacon (left) gives Marcet Love a shot of numbing medication before pulling one of his teeth during a visit to Mercy Care’s dental clinic at their facility off of Decatur St. in Atlanta on Tuesday, May 19, 2015.
Some of the dentistry tools used to pull teeth at Mercy Care’s dental clinic off of Decatur St. in Atlanta on Tuesday, May 19, 2015.
Dr. Katrina Schuler-Bacon (left hands) and DaJanea Rogers (right hands) pull one of Marcet Love’s teeth during a visit to Mercy Care’s dental clinic at their facility off of Decatur St. in Atlanta on Tuesday, May 19, 2015.
Dr. Katrina Schuler-Bacon (right) and DaJanea Rogers pull one of Marcet Love’s teeth during a visit to Mercy Care’s dental clinic at their facility off of Decatur St. in Atlanta on Tuesday, May 19, 2015.
Marcet Love has a tooth pulled by Dr. Katrina Schuler-Bacon during a visit to Mercy Care’s dental clinic at their facility off of Decatur St. in Atlanta on Tuesday, May 19, 2015.
Cedric Russell (left) has his teeth cleaned by dental hygenist Cindy Pickard during a visit to Mercy Care’s dental clinic at their facility off of Decatur St. in Atlanta on Tuesday, May 19, 2015.
Cindy Pickard (top) cleans Cedric Russell’s teeth during a visit to Mercy Care’s dental clinic at their facility off of Decatur St. in Atlanta on Tuesday, May 19, 2015.
Cedric Russell (right) has his teeth cleaned by dental hygenist Cindy Pickard during a visit to Mercy Care’s dental clinic at their facility off of Decatur St. in Atlanta on Tuesday, May 19, 2015.