MVHC opens dental clinic in Coshocton

COSHOCTON – Just a few weeks ago, the Muskingum Valley Health Centers opened a dental clinic in Coshocton.

The clinic serves children and adults, and all types of insurance are accepted. And even though it opened just recently, Dr. Mitchell VanHoose, the dentist who operates in the clinic, is already looking forward to expanding it.

“I know the real need for (dental care),” he said.

Residents of rural areas often can’t or don’t go to a dentist regularly, VanHoose said. And though there are other dental practices in the county, many do not take all forms of insurance, including Medicaid, the way the MVHC program does.

Neither the county nor the city health department offers dental care.

A large portion of the patients who use the clinic have some kind of Medicaid insurance, and many often haven’t been to a dentist in several years, if ever, VanHoose said.

Since the Medicaid expansion, many more people are eligible for coverage, VanHoose said, and patients have been rolling into the clinic. Appointments are booked several weeks out, and VanHoose estimated that the program will serve 1,000 patients by the end of the year.

And while some of the more elaborate services are not offered, cleanings, fillings and extractions are available.

The clinic is at 406 S. 15th St., and shares space with the Children’s Dental Clinic run through the Ohio State University School of Dentistry. The MVHC clinic is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays.

VanHoose divides his time between the MVHC clinics in Coshocton and Zanesville, and part of what he does includes educating patients on good dental care and that the dentist is not to be feared.

Fear of the dentist is one reason why people don’t go, VanHoose said, along with financial reasons and the belief that, if their teeth look fine and don’t hurt, then they don’t need to go. Or sometimes, people are embarrassed about the state of their teeth.

“We’re not going to judge them,” VanHoose said. “There’s nothing to be anxious about.”

Eventually, VanHoose said, he would like to move to a different building which could allow the dental clinic to open more days each week.

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MVHC Coshocton Dental Clinic

How to set up an appointment: Call 740-891-9000

Location: 406 S. 15th St., Cochocton 43812

Open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday

About the Dentist

Dr. Mitchell VanHoose grew up in rural Kentucky and graduated from the Ohio State University School of Dentistry. His position at the Muskingum Valley Health Centers is his first job out of school.