LIHUE — About 100 volunteers turned out on Friday to welcome and assist patients that stopped by to take advantage of the free dental clinic set up at the Island Comfort Air Conditioning and Heating Co. building on Rice Street.
Rules for the clinic are simple — everyone is welcome on a first come, first served basis. No proof of insurance, identification, income or immigration status is needed. The clinic is brought to the people of Kauai by the Lawai and Kapaa Seventh Day Adventist Church.
“We had several surges,” said Bronson Pactanac, the clinic organizer whose siblings are involved in dental care. “People are encouraged to visit. Be sure to bring water, snacks, shade and something to sit on while waiting to check in.”
The clinic which is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. continues on Sunday and Monday along Rice Street.
Services include cleaning, fillings, extraction (no wisdom teeth extraction), and all come with prayer.
The process is simple: Just walk in and have a seat in the hospitality area where a guide will greet the patient and guide them to the registration desk.
Once registered, patients go through a medical check where volunteer certified nurses check to see if the patient is compatible with the services provided.
Once medical clearance is obtained, patients are X-rayed with a mobile device before being guided to a waiting area.
“Even in waiting, there is education,” said Dr. Paul Sand, another of the coordinating dentists. “There is health education, and lifestyle recommendations to ensure a healthy life.”
Pactanac said the dental procedures are done by professionals who come from all over, including Oahu, Washington state and California, as well as Kauai. One local participant is Dr. Paul Yoo, who recently celebrated the opening of his new office in the former Kukui Grove Cinema building. He said all of the equipment geared for mobility was shipped in from California.
“We’re thinking of doing more,” Pactanac said. “Even at this point, I’m talking to people about setting up a similar program and clinic for eye care and vision.”
Pactanac, a beekeeper by trade, also provided special healthy drinks for the volunteers.
He noted that Sunday’s clinic is especially geared toward keiki who need dental care, and encourages parents to take advantage of the free services being provided by professionals.
