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Scott had lived with dental pain for more than 15 years. When he arrived at the Remote Area Medical (RAM®) Telehealth Clinic in Knoxville, Tennessee, he covered his mouth as he spoke. He hoped this visit would finally bring relief.
Scott and his father sat in traffic, unsure if they would make it before our monthly telehealth clinic at Fig Tree in West Knoxville closed. Scott was determined to make it.
“[The pain has] definitely got to the point where I’m about over it,” Scott said.
Dr. Laura treated the infection and provided medication to manage the pain until Scott could attend a full-scale dental clinic later.
RAM’s Mobile Telehealth Program
RAM’s telehealth clinics begin with in-person triage from a nurse in person, followed by a virtual visit with a physician. While these clinics do not offer vision or dental services, patients, like Scott, can receive treatment that addresses immediate symptoms and infections.
Nearly every week, RAM operates a mobile telehealth clinic somewhere in East Tennessee. These clinics have become a dependable source of care for many in the community.
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More than a Decade and a Half of Dental Pain
For the last three years, the pain has been severe. Eating was difficult, and he relied on daily pain medication. He took at least 800 milligrams of ibuprofen daily to help with the pain. Even just eating a piece of bread was difficult for him.
More than Physical Pain
The pain affected more than his health. It affected his confidence. He grew anxious in social situations and worried about his overall health.
He stopped smiling as often. He came into the RAM Telehealth Unit covering his mouth as he spoke, apologizing about the appearance of his teeth.
The infection had even pushed his blood pressure higher than normal. Dr. Laura explained the change and reassured him about the next steps.
A Lack of Care Outside of RAM
Scott came after a friend told him about RAM. He had avoided doctors and dentists for years because he lacked insurance.
The lack of coverage, combined with fear of dentists, kept him from seeking care.
We often hear from patients that they’re scared to see a doctor or dentist in their office, but they don’t mind so much at our clinics, commenting on how caring and attentive our volunteers are.
Dr. Laura prescribed antibiotics to treat the infection medication to manage the pain. He also left with information about our annual Knoxville clinic, less than a month later, where volunteer dentists could provide the extractions he needed.
If you or someone you know could benefit from RAM’s telehealth services or free dental, vision, and medical clinics, please click here to view our schedule.
Ways To Get Involved with RAM
- Read and share our blog posts
- Shop RAM’s official merch store online
- Make RAM your charity of choice with the Walmart Spark Good Program. Round up and donate your change to RAM.
