At Sun River Health's Patchogue Health Center, four dental chairs had been doing the work of six, and patients were feeling the impact. With demand for oral health care surging across Suffolk County, the site's care team of two dentists, one hygienist, and four dental assistants was operating at full capacity, with wait times for new patients stretching to nearly six months.
Thanks to generous donor support, that changed recently. The Foundation funded two new fully equipped operatories - complete with dental chairs, overhead lighting, cabinetry, and radiograph units - bringing Patchogue to its full six-chair capacity.
The impact is significant: with the added space, the Patchogue team expects to increase patient visits by more than 1,600 in the coming year, all without adding staff. Just as importantly, the hygienist who had previously been limited to three days a week was able to move to a much-needed full five-day schedule, closing a critical gap in preventive care.
Patients are already noticing the difference. Maria, a patient at Sun River Health Patchogue shared: "What I liked the most is that when I called the center requesting an appointment due to a dental emergency, I received a call back very quickly and my appointment was scheduled as soon as possible. The center's services have improved tremendously."
For the families of Suffolk County who rely on Sun River Health for accessible, quality dental care, these two chairs mean shorter waits, more appointments, and a healthier community.
