Olde Towne Medical Dental Clinic

On June 24, 1997, the James City County Board of Supervisors voted to discontinue payments for dental services provided by the Health Department, leaving the citizens of Williamsburg and York County with
limited options for primary dental care.

Fortunately for OTMC, Dr. Tom Luckam, a retired dentist who had volunteered with the Health Department, took the dental program under his wing and insured the dental clinic’s survival.

OTMC was first able to employ a part-time dentist when it was given the funding through a 3-year grant from the Virginia Health Care Foundation. Currently, funding for the clinic comes from The Riverside Health System Foundation, The Williamsburg Community Health Foundation, and Sentara, as well as from donations from the local dental community and other individuals, from the three jurisdictions, patient payments, Medicaid payments and additional grants.

From Annual Report

The Dental Program continues to grow. Services are provided by a part-time Dentist, a full-time Dental Assistant, full-time Receptionist and a part-time dental hygienist.

The staff is supplemented by ten volunteer Dentists and two volunteer Dental Assistants, as well as Dental specialists who see patients in their own offices. Basic dental care services are provided in about 200 patient visits per month. Dental Clinic staff and volunteers also provide basic dental screenings to children in the Williamsburg-James City County Schools, Head Start and Bright Beginnings.

Partners in this project have included Riverside Health System, the Virginia Health Care Foundation, The Bernard and Audre Rapoport Foundation, and Bruton Parish Church.

Dental Clinic Staff

Dr. Robert McNamee
Dentist

Armen Pruden
Hygienist

Ashley Patteson
Dental Assistant

Shamale Wilson
Dental Receptionist

Dental Clinic Volunteers

Dr. Thomas Luckam
Dr. Donald Cherry Dr. Martin Damsky
Dr. Rodney Dukart Dr. Robert Emory
Dr. William Krantz Dr. Robert Morrison
Dr. Stephen Murphy Dr. Stuart Oglesby
Dr. John Owen Dr. Christine Piascik
Referral Dental Specialists
Dr. Terry Hake Dr. Richard Pulgiese
Dr. Paul Hartmann Dr. Peter Wendell

A Challenge for the Community

Because 14.7% of Williamsburg’s population is uninsured, the need for low cost services in the community is high. Private practitioner cannot afford to accept uninsured patients; therefore, this population relies heavily upon Olde Towne for primary dental care.

Presently, there is 2-3 month waiting list for people that need care, ranging from extractions to cleanings. Sadly, it is not uncommon for people that are in pain and need immediate attention to wait weeks before they can be seen, due to the shortage in dentists. To address this problem, the dental clinic is seeking assistance from the community to increase both our resources and our ability to provide service.

Volunteers

All volunteers at Olde Towne are covered for malpractice by the State Risk Management Plan. In addition, there are town Good Samaritan Laws, one federal and one state to further protect our volunteers.

Most of our present volunteer dentists donate their time once a month for four hours. Dentists have the option of bringing their own dental assistant, however, our full-time dental assistant Ashley is ready at hand.

Referrals

Because the clinic provides only primary dental care and lacks the ability to provide specialized care such as denture molding, we encourage dentists that want to help, but cannot make the trip out to Olde Towne, to accept a few patient referrals.

Donations

With a tight annual budge for the dental clinic, monetary donations are always greatly welcomed as well as donations of equipment or supplies.

Hours of Operation

Monday through Friday
8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed from 12-1 for lunch

OTMC thanks the Riverside Health System Foundation for its ongoing generous support of the dental program.