By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The Wood County Community Health Center was founded on the belief that every person deserves health care – regardless of their ability to pay.
The center has found a dentist who shares that philosophy.
Dr. Bushra Aouthmany, who started this week as the center’s chief dental officer, has proven her commitment to community dental care at her previous posts at the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department, and at Community Health Services in Fremont.
“I have a passion in public health dentistry and giving back to my community,” Aouthmany said
As she was getting her dental degree at Ohio State University, Aouthmany performed rotations at public clinics.
“I enjoyed it,” she said, noting her family’s history of helping. “My family loves to do mission trips.”
Aouthmany understands that dental appointments are dreaded by some patients. So she does her best to make her patients comfortable – especially kids.
“There are some who are so scared,” she said of younger patients. “So I talk with them about Disney or cartoons, and they start to be my friend.”
That fear is also present in many adults.
“Making people feel comfortable with their anxiety is positive,” she said.
Aouthmany said in addition to treating dental problems, she likes to discuss oral hygiene with patients – since proper care at home may mean fewer trips to the dentist.
“I like to take time during the appointments to talk about dental hygiene,” she said.
She also likes to explain that once dental pain starts, it should be tended to before it gets worse.
“It’s not going away,” even though an aspirin may temporarily relieve the pain, she said.
Aouthmany saw her first patient at the Wood County clinic on Wednesday. The clinic offers cleanings, extractions, root canals, fillings, dentures, partials and crowns. Aouthmany does not perform root canals on molars or wisdom teeth extractions.
Alex Aspacher, community outreach coordinator with the health department, said Aouthmany is filling a vital role at the health center.
“Dental has been a huge need,” he said, noting that many private practice dentists don’t accept Medicaid payments. For at least two decades, dental care has shown up as a top concern on local health surveys.
“It’s been an unmet need in Wood County,” Aspacher said.
The health clinic will be reaching out to area dentist offices to make them aware that patients not accepted at private offices will be seen at the county clinic.
The dental clinic hours are: Mondays, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Aouthmany, who is from Toledo, earned a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Toledo and then graduated from the Ohio State University College of Dentistry.
In her free time, Aouthmany enjoys hiking and traveling with family to countries like China, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, England and France.
“I like to try new things, like cooking classes,” she said.
Aouthmany, whose hair is quite long, said she is getting ready to donate another 15 inches of hair – for the third time – to a cause such as Wigs for Kids or Locks for Love.
