Rissel Guzman, Lifelong’s Dental Program Manager, is a compassionate health advocate for her clients at work and after-hours.
“I love working in dental services because our clients are so happy after they get care,” says Rissel. “Sometimes we will get pictures afterwards from clients showing off their new smile. It’s more than fixing someone’s teeth—it changes everything, from their mental health to their physical wellbeing.”
Our wraparound model of care includes oral health services because we know that there is more to bettering a person’s health than just focusing on standard medical care.
Rissel’s team provides access to oral health care for about 1,500 people living with HIV in King, Island, and Snohomish counties.
“Sometimes people don’t think dental care is as necessary as medical care, but it’s just as important, especially for people living with HIV who are already at a higher risk for complications.”
HIV medications can cause thrush, oral cancer, and dry mouth, which can lead to infections, issues in the gums, and other dental problems. Although Rissel and her team work hard to get people connected to care, there are still significant barriers to oral health for those living with HIV.
“The first big obstacle is helping them make that first appointment. It can be scary and cause a lot of anxiety. Living with HIV and seeing a new doctor can be terrifying, especially the fear of potential discrimination, which unfortunately, we still see from time to time.”
On top of the anxiety of being stigmatized, oral health care can be extremely expensive, with clients sometimes needing treatments upwards of $20,000. Insurance like Medicaid doesn’t cover common treatments like crowns, bridges, or root canals, but at Lifelong, we do.
“A lot of our clients will end up losing their teeth when they have Medicaid, unless they are able to pay out of pocket for their treatments. Medicaid only covers one dental cleaning per year, but many of our clients need more regular cleanings, so we cover up to four. But if a client needs more than that, we do whatever it takes. We understand the importance of preventative care to ensure our clients get the care they need.”
On average, our dental program covers approximately $1.3 million in dental services annually that our clients would otherwise not be able to afford on their own.
Rissel supports her clients in her after-hours as well, having been a longtime supporter of Lifelong’s Dining Out For Life annual fundraiser. For her, it’s not only a great excuse to dine out at her favorite restaurants, but also a way for her to support the neighbors in her community that she works with every day at her job.
“Dining Out For Life is a perfect excuse to go out to eat all day and feel good about it. I love volunteering as an ambassador for the event so I can go around telling diners about how important it is to give back to support our critical services.”
Rissel wants you to join her at Dining Out For Life on Thursday, September 30 to help us fight for health for all, like her team does one smile at a time.
Dining Out For Life is our annual fundraising event, where local restaurants come together and donate a portion of their proceeds on the day of the event to support us as we break down barriers to health and improve access to critical services for neighbors living with serious illnesses, all amidst a global pandemic where health disparities remain at an all-time high.
That’s why we’ve set the ambitious goal of $150,000 for this year’s event—so no one has to be turned away from the vital services they need to support their best health, their best life.
You can make a life-changing difference. Dine out or order takeout at a participating restaurant, join Rissel and start a fundraiser with your friends and family, or simply donate to Lifelong by September 30 to support Lifelong’s work to remove barriers to health.