Compassion in Action: Middlebury Dental Group Supports Farmworker Health

When was the last time you took a good look in the mirror and checked your smile?

Your reply probably hinges on the obstacles standing in your way of getting that dental check-up. A recent report highlights the challenging landscape faced by many, especially those without legal immigration status, who encounter significant barriers to accessing dental care.

For instance, if you’re not pregnant or under 19, finding public or private health insurance can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. And if you’re one of the hardworking Latino immigrant farmworkers in Vermont’s dairy industry, your long hours, lack of reliable transportation, and language hurdles can make seeking care all the more daunting.

But here’s the good news: local communities are stepping up to bridge these gaps.

Take the Middlebury Dental Group, where, on a chilly Monday morning during the festive season, the sounds of Navidad Latina Radio filled the air.

In one treatment room, a lively group gathered around the patient chair—a testament to the collaborative spirit of care.

A standout in this scene was Shaguftha Pabani, a dental student from the University of New England, wrapping up her externship. Alongside her were dental assistant Max Hopper and volunteer Spanish interpreter Susan Stone.

Then there was Maria Fernanda Canales, affectionately known as Fernanda, the dental coordinator who connects this office with the Open Door Clinic, a free health resource for uninsured adults in Addison County.

At the center of this dynamic was Luis, a local farmworker in his mid-thirties, returning for his third or fourth appointment to get some much-needed fillings.

With some help from Fernanda, I asked Luis how long it had been since his last dental visit before discovering the clinic. His response was clear.

“Oooh!” he sighed. “Mucho tiempo.”

He recounted how tooth pain had driven him to seek help, only to discover his coworkers had pointed him toward Open Door Clinic.

“Empecé con un dolor de muela, y no sabía ni a dónde ir, y mis compañeros me dijeron que en la clínica Open Door, me podían a atender sin motivo alguno,” he shared.

And that’s how he found himself in the dental chair at Middlebury Dental Group.

As Luis settled into the chair for his final two fillings, I strolled over to speak with Dr. Peter Hopper, one of the co-owners of Middlebury Dental Group. His passion for serving local farmworkers was evident.

“We’ve always felt that these migrant workers are the backbone of our dairy industry here in Addison County. Helping them is our way of giving back,” he emphasized.

Initially, this practice dedicated a couple of days a year specifically for farmworkers, attracting maybe a dozen patients at a time.

But then, Dr. Adam Fasoli took it a step further by partnering with the Open Door Clinic, allowing many more farmworkers to access the care they desperately need.

“The demand was enormous, and our waiting list grew quickly,” Adam shared. “To tackle this, we started hosting dental students and residents, transforming our practice into something akin to a teaching hospital.”

Thanks to the success of Middlebury Dental Group, they can offer these services completely free of charge, with vital support from the Open Door Clinic.

The clinic organizes volunteer interpreters and provides vital supplies, bringing in a dental assistant, hygienist, and Fernanda, who plays a crucial role in connecting with immigrant farmworkers and their employers to ensure they can take time off for appointments.

Fernanda’s mission doesn’t stop there; she also comforts new patients who may feel hesitant about stepping into the clinic. “We invite them in with open arms, ensuring they feel welcomed and supported,” she explained.

Drawing from her personal journey as an immigrant from Argentina, she understands the importance of feeling seen and valued in the community.

“It’s crucial that they know they are part of the community,” she emphasized.

Currently, Fernanda mentioned that Middlebury Dental Group can now accommodate around 20 additional farmworker patients each week.

For cases that extend beyond their capabilities—like the recent incident involving a farmworker injured in a cow-related accident—Fernanda is actively establishing connections with more dentists to ensure everyone receives the care they need.

However, her outreach has its limits, especially for workers residing outside Addison County.

“We often find ourselves apologizing, explaining that our services are limited to this area, but we strive to help connect them with resources,” Fernanda noted. “Unfortunately, many are left without suitable options.”

She remains hopeful that more dental offices across various counties will adopt this supportive model.

For individuals like Luis, who was getting his fillings that day, these efforts are paying off.

He expressed his gratitude for the clinic, saying, “Sinceramente gracias a esta clínica, pues muchos compañeros han venido aquí y han compuestos sus dientes, lo han atendido muy bien gracias a Dios.”

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