Members of staff at Aventis dental clinic, which has recently re-opened after a three-month-long closure, have been overwhelmed by demand for treatment.
The Aventis Dental Clinic in Cayman reopened on the 7th February after a three-month-long closure; the clinic was forced to close in November due to funding issues. When the clinic was closed there was a shortage of affordable dental care and many people went without the treatment they needed.
Jonathan Lavington, Aventis’ principle said that there had been a significant increase in patient numbers since the clinic reopened in February. Usually, the clinic treats between 10 and 15 patients per day, but since it reopened, the average has been 25.
The increase in patient numbers echoes a national trend, with many reduced-rate clinics and practices and free dental events experiencing a significant increase in demand for their services. Some patients are spending hours queuing for free dental clinics and practices, with some even camping out overnight in freezing temperatures to ensure that they get an appointment.
The Cayman Island clinic reopened with it is open to everyone and operates on a sliding insurance fee scale, meaning people pay as much as their insurance covers their dental treatment. The minimum treatment fee has increased from $20 to $30 to help cover the clinic’s running costs.
