PRASAD Sees 40 Percent Jump in Patients as Affordable Dental Care in Sullivan County Lags

Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessing high-quality dental care is already difficult for low-income families. But in rural communities, the need is even greater, where limited public transportation and a shortage of dental providers make care even more challenging to find.Liberty-based dental hygiene nonprofit PRASAD saw a 40 percent increase in children patients from 2023 to 2024 after they expanded their mobile clinics in Sullivan County, says PRASAD’s Executive Director Dr. Cecilia Escarra. Still, she’s worried that a stigma around dental care and limited available providers serving low-income patients continues to stagnate access.Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with PRASAD’s Executive Director Dr. Cecilia Escarra about their work.