Diana smiles as she waits to be seen at the Dentists on Wheels Pittsburg Free Dental Clinic at St. Vincent de Paul.
Diana is a registered nurse who has dedicated much of her life to caring for others. She first learned about the mission of St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County during her time in nursing school, where she studied under the Daughters of Charity. At that time, she never expected that one day she would be the one needing a helping hand.
Life eventually took a very difficult turn for Diana. After surviving domestic violence, she developed severe post-traumatic stress disorder. This trauma interrupted her ability to work as a nurse. Stepping away from work to care for herself left her with very few. Diana said that the emotional fallout from the domestic violence she experienced even made it a struggle just to get through a standard job interview.
“I don’t think people understand the impact of domestic violence,” Diana shared. “It’s really hard sometimes just to survive.”
Because she was unable to work, Diana was placed on Social Security Disability Insurance. This created a new and unexpected problem for her. Her disability payments paid her just enough money to disqualify her from receiving Denti-Cal benefits, however, the payments were not enough to pay for care out of her own pocket or afford dental insurance.
“I was put on SSDI, which paid me enough to disqualify me from denti-cal, but not enough to afford dental insurance or actual dental care,” Diana explained. “It had me stuck in a really hard place where it was just difficult to care for myself.”
Without the ability to pay for regular visits to a dentist, her health declined. Diana said it felt like her problems just kept compounding and getting worse. She felt trapped in a hole and was not sure how to dig herself out.
Eventually, Diana developed several cavities. She also suffered multiple fractured teeth. These fractures were caused by a combination of a damaging crossbite played a major role, along with a lack of regular dental care.
The state of her teeth took a heavy toll on her daily life. Diana felt deeply embarrassed to smile or even show her teeth to anyone. She worried constantly that her daughter might be embarrassed by her appearance. Diana knew her daughter simply wanted to see her healthy and taking care of herself, but the worry still weighed heavily on her mind.
Searching for a lifeline, Diana came to the Dentists on Wheels Pittsburg Free Dental Clinic at St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County. Here, she found the exact support she needed. The clinic staff welcomed her and immediately began working on her complex dental needs.
“I came with a few really difficult cavities, and I’m so grateful to have them filled,” Diana said. “The Dentists on Wheels free dental clinic at St. Vincent de Paul is also helping me with my fractured and damaged teeth. I’ve been really embarrassed to smile, or show my teeth, so I’m just so grateful for this help.”
The relief of receiving this care goes far beyond her physical health. For Diana, the most important part of this journey has been sharing the good news with her family. She said she cannot express how thankful she feels to look at her daughter and tell her that her teeth are finally getting fixed and cared for.
Diana is now on a clear path forward. The free clinic gave her a safe place to receive treatment without the crushing burden of medical debt. Through the support of the dental team and St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County, she is finding her footing again.
“The help I’m receiving I feel is really helping me feel confident again, and is helping me regain control of my life,” she said.
Today, Diana is focused on her continued recovery. Her story shows exactly why community safety nets are so critical. Sometimes, a person simply needs a little bit of help to break a difficult cycle and find their smile again.
