OHP Success Story – Winter 2021

Peggy, age 98, has led a very active life. She grew up in the coal-mining region of Pennsylvania, worked for the Office of Strategic Services (O.S.S.) during WWII, then made a career at the Telephone Company before retiring to Oregon. Peggy has always enjoyed hiking, bird-watching, traveling, volunteering, and getting together with family and friends. Health issues led her to an assisted living facility, where she enjoys exercise, reading, and doing all kinds of puzzles.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Peggy was doing well until recently when she began to experience unremitting tooth pain. Peggy’s son got her in touch with Dr. James Hayden at Exceptional Needs Dental Services (ENDS). The ENDS program is a partnership established by four Oregon dental care organizations:
-Capitol Dental Care
-CareOregon Dental
-Managed Dental Care of Oregon
-Willamette Dental

Dr. Hayden and his dental assistant, Candice, visited Peggy at her assisted living facility and successfully removed the diseased tooth. “What a relief!” Peggy stated after the extraction. “And they were nice, too.” Peggy’s son also commented “They did a great job”. “My mom is not the easiest dental patient. I was impressed with every aspect of ENDS, from the timely communications with their scheduler, Debbie, to the compassionate and professional care by James and Candice. I don’t know what we would have done without them.”

Because of the dental care benefits made possible by Oregon Health Plan (OHP), and providers like Dr. Hayden, Peggy has had all her dental needs met and she couldn’t be happier.