Expansion of care coming, more patients, more areas being served in county
Community Dental of Chester County welcomes three new dentists, Dr. Sofia Barroso, DMD (pictured left with Sterilization Technician Ruth Acosta),Dr. Steven Casella, DDS and Dr. Paula Stone (right) is pictured with Dental Assistant Carol Wroten.
COATESVILLE — Chester County Community Dental Center celebrates its 10th anniversary this fall by welcoming three new dentists, Paula Stone, DMD, and Sofia Barroso, DMD, and Steven Casella, DDS.
Drs. Stone and Barroso have joined Community Dental full time and Dr. Casella will be available as necessary, so patients have access to two dentists at all times. With the addition of a second full-time dentist and additional help as needed, Community Dental will be able to see approximately 4,500 patients in the coming year, a 22 percent increase from the past year.
Community Dental is also expanding access to dental care among low income, primarily Latino residents of Southern Chester County, through a partnership with La Comunidad Hispana. Initially, the organizations will partner to provide patient transportation to the Community Dental Center in Coatesville, with long term plans to secure a mobile dental van or permanent satellite office near La Comunidad Hispana’s facility in Kennett Square.
“This expansion of Community Dental’s capacity comes at an important time,” said Chester County Community Dental Executive Director Regina Horton Lewis. “In May of this year the Pew Center on the States noted a 16 percent increase nationwide between, 2006 and 2009, in the number of people seeking dental care in hospital emergency rooms. At the same time, evidence mounts that poor dental health has serious negative consequences for long-term general health, making good dental care about much more than a pretty smile.”
As part of its 10th anniversary celebration, Community Dental has planned a fundraising comedy night event, Night of 10,000 Smiles, to be held at the Coatesville Country Club on Saturday, November 17. Ticket information is available on the organization’s website or by contacting Development Director Tamara Fox at 610-383-3888, ext. 205.
Founded in 2002, Chester County Community Dental Center serves over 8,000 vulnerable children and adults through its preventive and restorative clinical services and education outreach programs. Services are provided in Community Dental’s state-of-the-art Coatesville offices at the Brandywine Center in Coatesville and at outreach events throughout the county.
