Dental Care in Western NC Faces Uphill Battle After Devastating Hurricane
As floodwaters recede, Avery County is fighting to keep its only affordable dental clinic open after severe damage from Hurricane Helene. With limited dental services in the area, residents face prolonged waits for essential care, underscoring the community’s urgent need for dental access.
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, Avery County, North Carolina, is grappling with significant damage to its infrastructure, homes, and essential services. Among the hardest-hit facilities was Avery Dental, the only clinic providing affordable dental care in the rural community. As the floodwaters poured in, reaching up to 4 feet inside the facility, critical equipment was destroyed, leaving the clinic unable to serve the low-income and uninsured residents who depend on it.
Avery Dental is part of High Country Community Health, a nonprofit organization offering sliding-scale medical and dental services to vulnerable populations. In Avery County, where nearly 15% of residents live below the poverty line and 14.6% are uninsured, the loss of this clinic poses a substantial challenge. Residents face a dentist-to-resident ratio of 1-to-2,200, compared to North Carolina’s average of 1-to-1,630. Many rely on the clinic’s sliding-scale fees and Medicaid acceptance for their oral health needs, making the clinic’s recovery all the more critical.
Floodwaters left the clinic’s walls, floors, and equipment unsalvageable, amounting to nearly $3.6 million in losses across the organization. While a mobile clinic van has been stationed nearby to provide emergency dental care, the limited setup cannot meet the full spectrum of dental needs that the seven-chair clinic once accommodated.
For the residents of Avery County, recovery has been slow. Stores remain closed, and debris piles linger outside flooded homes. Many are still focused on repairing their lives and homes, but for some, untreated dental issues are becoming an urgent concern. With the demand for dental services growing, High Country has been providing emergency extractions, exams, and fillings from the mobile unit. However, the van’s small capacity and basic equipment limit its ability to address more complex cases.
Efforts to restore Avery Dental are ongoing. High Country is working with contractors to gut the flood-damaged interior, replacing insulation, walls, and electrical wiring to meet health and safety standards. The estimated rebuild cost ranges from $500,000 to $750,000, a figure that reflects both structural repairs and the replacement of specialized dental equipment. Click here to read more.
