NYU Dental Van Coming To Shorefront Y As Part Of Pilot Program For Seniors

The NYU Dental Van will visit the Shorefront Y in Brighton Beach this week as part of a pilot program to make dental care more accessible to seniors in need.

Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz, chairman of the Aging Committee, partnered with NYU Dentistry’s Mobile Dental Van Program to bring the van to his district. The van will be parked outside the Shorefront Y, located at Coney Island Avenue and Brightwater Court, Wednesday and Thursday from 9am to 3pm.

The dental van is open to all seniors regardless of their ability to pay and offers X-rays, oral cancer exams, oral health education, oral hygiene instruction and nutritional counseling, cleanings, dental restorations, removable and complete dentures, simple tooth extractions and simple denture repairs.

“More seniors than ever are living in poverty in New York City, with the result that health-related necessities like dental care — including regular cleanings and other preventive care — are well beyond their financial reach,” Cymbrowitz said in a press release. “I commend the NYU Dental Van initiative for targeting this vulnerable population and offering an ongoing service that will have such a positive impact on our seniors’ lives.”

The dental van will return to the Shorefront Y on July 28 and August 11, and then on the second Thursday of every month. Appointments are necessary and can be made by calling the Shorefront Y at 718-646-1444 and asking for Boris Bruk (extension 330) or Zina Fikhman (extension 413).

On Thursday, there will also be complimentary dental screenings for seniors inside the Shorefront Y from 9:30am to 11:30am. No appointments are necessary for this service.

The NYU Dental Van provides services to 2,000 schoolchildren every year. The program at the Shorefront Y marks the first time it has expanded its services to older adults, according to Cymbrowitz’s office.