For many older adults, dental care is one of the first health needs to fall out of reach. Fixed incomes, lack of insurance and rising costs can turn routine cleanings or denture repairs into persistent sources of pain and isolation.
At Lucy Corr, that gap is bridged through the Lucy Corr Foundation Dental Clinic — and with the hands-on help of dentistry students who volunteer their time and skills.
Supported by the Lucy Corr Foundation, the on-site clinic provides free or low-cost dental services and overall oral health support to qualifying uninsured seniors. Residents of Lucy Corr and the surrounding area — Chester, Petersburg, Chesterfield County and the rest of greater Richmond — are among the clinic’s hundreds of yearly patients. The clinic is a proud member of the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (VAFCC), a network of over 70 operations providing essential care services across Virginia.
Under the leadership of Dental Medical Director Dr. Michael Hanley and Dr. Richard Roadcap, the clinic offers everything from routine exams and cleanings to extractions, periodontal care and denture fabrication. It has delivered more than $3.5 million worth of free dental care since opening in 2008.
A key partner in that mission is Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Dentistry. As part of the programs, D.D.S. and dental hygiene students rotate through safety-net clinics across Virginia, gaining real-world experience while serving populations with the greatest need. Lucy Corr is one of those clinical sites, offering students the opportunity to work closely with and provide dental support to older adults.
D.D.S. students are postgraduates undergoing doctoral training to diagnose and treat oral issues, sometimes through surgical means; dental hygiene undergraduate students focus on preventative care and cleaning. At VCU, the latter must complete a senior project in which they implement a public health program at one of the school’s partner clinical sites.
Three dental hygiene students surveyed Lucy Corr Foundation Dental Clinic patients regarding oral health topics they would like to learn about. Using that information, they gave an oral health presentation to a handful of residents at the Springdale Bistro on February 9.
Among the presenters was Merrill Dugger, a senior graduating in May 2026. For her, the experience of working in the clinic has reinforced the heart of public health dentistry.
“The whole point of a public health program is to see improvement in the needs of the population, whether it’s decreasing the number of cavities or increasing oral health knowledge,” she said. At Lucy Corr, that improvement begins with helping residents understand how daily habits, medications and age-related changes affect oral health.
Students tailor their approach specifically to each patient, addressing issues such as dry mouth, brushing and flossing techniques, mobility limitations and denture care — grounding their guidance in what patients can realistically do. “If you have mobility issues, it might be harder to brush and floss, so what are your options then? What if you don’t like to use traditional floss? What else can you use?” Dugger said. “We want to help everyone find what works best for them so they can have the cleanest mouth possible.”
That individualized attention reflects the clinic’s broader philosophy: Oral hygiene is inseparable from overall well-being. Pain-free eating, clear speech and the confidence to smile all contribute to seniors’ physical and emotional health, outcomes that ripple far beyond the dental chair.
For Sania Pullen, also a senior in VCU’s dental hygiene program, the work at Lucy Corr offers a broader perspective on care. “By assessing residents’ needs, we get a bird’s eye view of the overall scope of what it means to address the needs of older adults,” she said. Listening closely to residents’ concerns and building rapport over time can shape students into more thoughtful clinicians while delivering immediate benefits to the community.
As the Lucy Corr Foundation Dental Clinic continues to serve hundreds of seniors each year, its partnership with VCU ensures that compassion, education and high-quality care remain at the root of every visit. Learn more here.
