Response overwhelming for ill man needing dental workBy Ashley Gold
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
At the beginning of the week, Alan Checca felt like he had no options. Now, he can't respond to all of them quickly enough.
Checca, 43, of Derry needs an estimated $10,000 in dental work before he can get on the waiting list for his third kidney transplant. His anti-rejection drugs have caused gum erosion, and he can't get on Allegheny General Hospital's transplant list because he hasn't passed the dental exam. He doesn't have dental insurance to cover the procedure.
But after a story ran in Monday's Tribune-Review, at least four dentists have stepped forward offering Checca full pre-transplant dental care, free of charge.
"I was so upset when I heard what happened, because I thought this shouldn't be happening in America," said Dr. Cynthia Labriola, who has a dentistry office in Bloomfield. "I thought it would be so simple to fix the problem."
Labriola said she isn't surprised that other dentists have offered the same thing -- she thinks it's "the right thing to do."
Checca called the response "awesome" and is contacting the dentists to see which would work best.
Dr. Timothy Chips, who has offices in the North Hills and Gibsonia, offered his help. He said predicaments such as Checca's aren't unusual.
As a resident in medical school, one of his rotations included clearing patients for transplant surgery, so he knows what these patients have to go through, he said. But often, there are resources available to help. His office is affiliated with Donated Dental Services, an organization that provides dental work to those who can't afford it.
"There's a lot of deserving individuals who miss the opportunity to get what they need, because they can't find a way to get from point A to point B," he said.
"We're just being good people in the community, reaching out to see if we can help. No matter how you look at it, you're going to die if your kidneys don't work, and you're not going to die if we have to take out a couple of teeth."
Dr. Henry A. Miller of Greensburg, who specializes in aesthetic, implant and reconstructive dentistry, said in an e-mail that his particular speciality could be especially helpful.
"Patients like Mr. Checca, who have complicated medical histories, require comprehensive dental care in conjunction with serious medical problems," he said.
Dr. Barry Bartusiak in Washington County was among those offering his services.
"I read that article, and I'm thinking, 'It's been 25 years of his life that he's had such a significant problem, and the last hurdle is dental treatment?' " Bartusiak said.
Ashley Gold can be reached at agold@tribweb.com or 412-370-7845.
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