FAQs

Local Start Dental is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dental clinic that uses a unique service-training model to provide reduced-cost or free dentures (with and without dental implant therapy) for low-income adults, including veterans, seniors, the disabled, homeless and the uninsured.

Our 5,000 sq. ft., state-of-the-art dental clinic is conveniently located in downtown Durham, NC. The clinic is next to Durham’s downtown bus station and regional transportation hub on the streel level of the Willard Street Apartments, a Self-Help Credit Union affordable housing project. The clinic has ten operatories, design and denture labs, a classroom for continuing education, two x-ray rooms, and a treatment consultation room. Take a Virtual Tour

While the clinic is located in Durham, we welcome patients from all of the 100 counties in North Carolina. To date, we have seen patients from 50 out of the 100 counties in the state.

The clinic’s downtown location is adjacent to Durham’s regional bus transit station and near several social service agencies.

Patients are screened by either the referring agencies or Local Start Dental to ensure they meet the income and health standards necessary to receive treatment. We are committed to providing care for all patients, no matter their financial background, those with limited access to dental care, and those who have their general dentistry needs taken care of but are looking for specialized tooth replacement treatment. If you have questions about eligibility, please contact us. 

Local Start has a comprehensive application process that requires proof of household income. Please bring identification and proof of household income to your initial appointment in order to apply.

Local Start Dental is guided by a Board of Directors. Local nonprofit dental, healthcare, and social service organizations further advise on the clinic’s operational structure and provide patient referrals.

We rely on a mix of financial and in-kind contributions and earned income. This includes: Reimbursements from Medicaid and the VA; Sliding-scale fees for patients who qualify for treatment; Tuition from continuing education courses throughout the year; In-kind contributions of equipment, dental materials, and supplies that are necessary to treat patients; The value of contributed services from UNC dental students and residents, and volunteers; and Philanthropic contributions from individuals, businesses, foundations, service organizations, and others. Your financial support enables Local Start Dental to provide more free and low-cost services. Please consider a donation or contact us for more information.

Durham and the Triangle region are similar to the rest of North Carolina in terms of oral-health needs among underserved populations. The NC Oral Health Collaborative found in 2017 that the limited capacity of safety net clinics is a recognized barrier to care in North Carolina. Even in the best of times, large segments of the Triangle’s communities lack access to anything but the most basic dental services. In addition to the health risks of untreated dental distress, adults with even a few missing teeth often encounter difficulties finding jobs commensurate with their abilities and are relegated to low-paying positions or unemployment. Just a few statistics include: Up to 30% of all North Carolinians over age 65 have no natural teeth NC has more than twice the national rate of costly emergency room dental visits where patients receive treatment only for pain, not for the underlying causes of dental distress Untreated oral infections and decay promote a multi-year deterioration process, often leading to infection in other areas of the body and to larger health issues such as diabetes and stroke Despite the large public health implications of oral disease, only 27% of dentists statewide accept Medicaid (as opposed to 42% nationally), and Medicare does not cover dental services NC’s poverty rate of 16.1% puts 1.65 million people at risk for oral health problems. In Durham, 47,000 people live below the poverty level

There is a huge gap in service options for disadvantaged adults who are missing some or all of their teeth, and we are working in collaboration with others in the community to fill that gap: Seniors disproportionately experience periodontal disease and tooth loss, which can lead to malnutrition and more severe health problems as their ability to eat diminishes. Durham’s VA Hospital Dental Clinic must send 4,000 or more patients back to the community for care each year when it reaches capacity. For many of these patients, particularly those in need of extensive dental restoration, it can be challenging to find local dentists who will accept VA benefits. Additionally, not all veterans covered by the VA Health Plan are eligible for dental care, and 54% of veterans are not enrolled in the VA Health Plan at all. In North Carolina, 42% of veterans are older than 65, and 40% have a household income below $50,000, making major dental care a significant expense. Four other non-profit dental clinics in Durham are able to treat about 4,000 low-income patients annually. However, they are unable to treat those needing dentures and other tooth replacement services, which they do not offer. Durham Health Department dentists serve only children and pregnant women. Social service organizations throughout the Triangle serve thousands of clients each year who are dealing with substance abuse recovery, homelessness, disability, and lack of employment. Many of these clients require significant dental care. While Local Start Dental cannot eliminate poverty or reduce opioid abuse in our region, we can, over time, help those who need advanced dental care to improve their health and increase their chances of successful employment and self-sufficiency.