By Andrea Uhde
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Dr. Simon Nguyen inspects the teeth of a young patient on the clinic's opening day Thursday. Jody Wieser is the dental assistant. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

Kelvina Wright pointed a tiny finger at a jagged tooth. "It hurts when I eat."

Kelvina, 12, of Avondale, hasn't been to the dentist to get it checked. "We've been busy most of the time. My mom is at work."

A chance to get the tooth looked at came Thursday at the grand opening of the Crest Smile Shoppe, a low-cost, full-service dental clinic at the US Bank Boys and Girls Club in Avondale. The clinic, with six chairs and two full-time dentists, will provide fillings, extractions, cleanings and some root canals, each priced according to the patient's ability to pay.

Dr. Duane Lewis surveyed Kelvina's teeth. "You've got a good sized cavity here," Lewis said. "You have a cavity here, too."

Kelvina wasn't surprised. "I used to eat a lot of candy."

There are many Cincinnati children who haven't regularly seen a dentist. Each year, about 22 percent of children in the city who need dental care are actually able to get treatment, said Lawrence Hill, director of dental services for the city.

An estimated 47 percent of 8-year-olds in the inner city have dental decay, Hill said. About 40 percent of Cincinnati residents don't have dental insurance. There are six public health clinics.

With the Crest Smile Shoppe opening, there will be opportunities for about 2,000 Cincinnati residents to get affordable dental care, Hill said. That will make a significant dent in the 4,000-person waiting list in the city, Hill said, and it could also improve Cincinnati's future dental care.

"I believe this is a catalyst for further action," Hill said. "This is an example for our community and for communities all over the country."

The Crest Smile Shoppe, at 612 Rockdale Ave., is the product of a collaboration between the Cincinnati Health Department, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati and Crest Healthy Smiles 2010, a plan to bring low-cost dental care to Cincinnati.

Jackie Humphries, a mother of three Rockdale Elementary students, is enthusiastic about the clinic. Though her children have a regular dentist, she came to the opening to support those who need dental care. "For kids who don't have a regular dentist, this is just perfect," she said.

The clinic will cater to children, especially those at Burton, South Avondale, Rockdale and Taft elementary schools, and members of the Boys & Girls Clubs in Cincinnati. There will be designated hours for Boys & Girls Club members and their families. It's one of nine such facilities in the country providing services to club members and their siblings.

Adults may have to wait for an appointment - there is already a waiting list with 200 people, mainly adults, who may be waiting as long as a year.

More business is expected. "I'm pretty sure we'll get bombarded tomorrow because the sign's up on the building," said Virginia Baker, a dental clerk.

To make an appointment, call 352-4072.

E-mail auhde@enquirer.com