Rust Foundation funds digital imaging system for Troy Dental Care Center
| Date Posted: 3/26/2010
Rust Foundation funds digital imaging system for Troy Dental Care Center
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Sharon Nicholson Harrell, DDS |
TROY – FirstHealth’s Dental Care Centers program has received a grant from the Harry L. and Helen M. Rust Charitable Foundation to purchase a digital panoramic imaging system for the FirstHealth Dental Care Center-Troy.
With digital panoramic technology, a large X-ray machine rotates around the patient’s head to provide a comprehensive view of the teeth, oral structures and jaw bone. The digital images provided by the technology can reveal the presence of cysts, tumors or impacted teeth as well as the presence or absence of permanent teeth.
“Receiving the Rust Foundation money will allow us to transition from X-ray film to complete digital imaging in our Troy office,” says Sharon Nicholson Harrell, DDS, MPH, director of the FirstHealth Dental Care Centers. “Digital imaging significantly reduces the amount of radiation to our patients. It also enables dentists to better diagnose dental disease.”
The FirstHealth Dental Care Centers in Troy, Southern Pines and Raeford serve children, age birth to 18 years, who are covered by Medicaid or Health Choice or are uninsured and who qualify by income level. During the first quarter of the 2009-2010 fiscal year, the three centers averaged more than 1,000 patient visits per month.
The grant for the imaging equipment in the Troy Dental Care Center comes from a charitable organization that was established in 2004 and is headquartered in Kansas City, Mo. The Harry L. and Helen M. Rust Charitable Foundation is dedicated to continuing the philanthropic tradition begun by a couple who during their lifetimes regularly supported charities dedicated to improving the human condition and the quality of life for disadvantaged populations.
The Foundation’s philanthropic efforts concentrate specific programs or projects in the broad areas of human services, education and health services.
For more information on the FirstHealth Dental Care Centers in Troy, Southern Pines and Raeford, please call (800) 213-3284.
