Northwest Oral Health Outreach opens in Ritzville at EARH

Area residents have the opportunity to receive exceptional dentistry care by Dr. Brenden Davis and his staff from Northwest Oral Health Outreach (NWOHO) at East Adams Rural Healthcare.

Davis grew up in Jordan Utah, and after graduating from high school, he served a mission for two years in South America where he learned to speak fluent Spanish.

Shortly after he returned, he joined the Army and served as a mental health counselor for soldiers for six years.

During his time in the service, Davis said he was deployed multiple times to places such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Honduras and Iraq.

The Army allowed him to develop a passion for helping people and prepared him for the career he wished to pursue prior to his service, he explained.

He earned a Bachelor’s at the University of Utah and furthered his education at the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health where he received a Doctor of Dental Medicine and Masters of Public Health.

The predictable hours of the career allows him to spend time with his wife, Jennifer, and their five kids, explained Davis, an aspect of the profession he loves.

Once he received his degree, his appreciation for Army Corps continued as well through his involvement in the Washington State National Guard. He is ranked as a Major in the National Guard and has over 15 years of part and full-time service.

Currently, Davis spends one weekend a month providing the soldiers with dental exams and check-ups for their annual requirement.

Davis said he has been practicing dentistry for seven and a half years and his passion continues to grow.

Currently residing in Ellensburg, he began his work by starting the dental program for Community Health of Central Washington as a dental director in 2009.

During his six years at Community Health, he treated a lot of nursing home patients in Ellensburg. Due to the fact some of the patients were in wheelchairs or had difficulty moving, Davis is one of the few dentists who are willing to put forth the extra effort to treat these patients.

Davis noticed transporting the patients to his office could be a big inconvenience, so he decided to begin a mobile dentist program called Senior Smiles of Central Washington in 2014.

The program allowed Davis to transport the proper equipment to the nursing homes to treat seniors and adults with disabilities. He received a $100,000 grant from the Washington Dental Service Foundation for the program.

Due to his background with geriatric patients and public health, Davis said he enjoys helping people in anyway he can. He viewed the program as a way he could provide treatment for elderly patients and expand his practice.

After leaving Community Health of Central Washington, he started his own practice in Ellensburg called Northwest Oral Health Outreach in May 2016.

He continues his outreach program by traveling to 12 nursing homes in Yakima and Kittitas counties.

When he contacted the City of Ritzville about providing treatment to the local healthcare center, he realized the city did not have a dentist in the area. Davis said he approached East Adams Rural Healthcare (EARH) CEO/CFO Gary Bostrom about expanding his services to residents.

Bostrom informed him EARH had available rooms he could use for his practice so in October, Davis opened his doors to community members.

He voiced his gratitude for the immense amount of support he received from the community. Residents expressed their appreciation by keeping him busy the first three weeks of his practice being open, said Davis.

The best way to avoid dental complications is to prevent the problem before it begins by educating youth on the importance of dental care, Davis explained.

He has already made an effort to reach out to the children of the community by providing check-ups to the students of Lind Elementary School.

Davis emphasized the love he has for the profession and he enjoys providing his services to the people and communities who need it.

As for Ritzville, Davis and his staff expressed their appreciation for the support and business the community has provided them. Davis said the city has reminded him why he loves his career and the staff who spend their time ensuring his practice runs smoothly.

Currently, Davis’ services are available to residents on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at EARH.

Due to the fact Davis spends limited time in Ritzville, if community members have a dental emergency, they can call Davis’ office in Ellensburg and be instructed on the proper way to handle the situation based on the severity of the problem.

NWOHO accepts all major insurances including Medicaid as well as cash. In order to provide services to all residents, NWOHO is willing to contact any insurance company and become credentialed with them.

For those who do not have dental coverage or insurance, NWOHO offers a discounted membership plan where participants are allowed to pay month-to-month and are provided with the basic procedures they need.

NWOHO provides an abundance of services including exams, x-rays, cleanings, fillings, emergency care, extractions, root canals, crowns, bridges, denture adjustments, bite guards, and referral consultations.

Community members can schedule an appointment with Davis by contacting his Ellensburg office at 509-925-7600 or online at http://www.nwoho.com.