Between a new dentist, new location and new name, the McKean
County Dental Center is ready sink its teeth into the dental needs
of the region.

The center started three years ago as a grant-funded clinic to
provide services to indigent children and families. Now, the center
serves the dental needs of anyone in the area, regardless of
income.

“We’re excited to see what the future holds in this setting,”
Rhonda Chilson, director of Primary Care Services at Bradford
Regional Medical Center, said of the new location on Chestnut
Street, which effectively doubles the capacity of the center.

“From an idea and identified need, this service has literally
grown out of its location, to doubling in capacity and professional
staff to meet even more of one of the critical health needs in the
area.”

The center has also added a dentist, John LeClair, DMD, FAGD, to
its staff. The long-time oral surgeon is performing surgical
services both in the office and will be at BRMC. He joins Dr.
Ronald Tilgner at the center.

The Duke Center native and graduate of Otto-Eldred High School
has been talking about coming back to the area for years.

“I always wanted to come back … Bradford has a lot to
offer.”

His love of hunting and fishing didn’t hurt either.

He spent 27 years in the U.S. Navy and time in Vietnam. He has
spent 33 years in a dentistry practice in State College.

“My grandmother always said, ‘Johnny, when you get out of
school, come back to Bradford and you’ll do fine,'” he
remembered.

Several years ago, he planned to buy property and set up an
office. Then, this opportunity came.

“I have finally come home.”

LeClair was inspired to become a dentist when he would bicycle
the seven miles from Duke Center to Eldred to do lawn work for a
dentist there.

The father of six is in Bradford Mondays and Tuesdays. On
Wednesdays, he will spend time in the operating room at BRMC.

He said 99 percent of what he does is surgery because “that’s
what I like to do.”

LeClair’s surgical offerings include wisdom teeth extractions,
implants or replacing missing teeth and “immediate dentures” for
those who do not wish to wait one or two months for their dental
plates.

This option is available, the new dentist notes, because of the
on-site work lab for creating patients’ dentures. Bone contouring
is also available, a technique used for some patients needing
dentures to prepare the gums for placement, as well as gum surgery.
In addition, the practice offers tissue biopsies for patients with
oral lesions referred from their physicians or other dentists.

LeClair can fill requests for extractions and surgical exposure
of teeth, most often needed by teen-agers or pre-teens prior to
getting braces.

The dental specialist said he is available to assist with sports
injuries, including those patients who typically go to the
Emergency Department. Eventually, he said, he hopes to present
dental programs in area schools and would like to work with some
area sports teams with high risks of potential injuries.

Treatment also is cosmetic in nature including specialized teeth
whitening techniques.

For now, however, the center is extremely busy with about 20-30
patients a day. LeClair’s looking at seeing about 40 a day. The
center also accepts a variety of insurance and treats patients of
all income levels.

“A lot of dentures … tons of extractions.”

Extractions can total 60 to 150 a day.

“It’s a tremendous service,” LeClair said, adding patients range
from 3 years of age to 93. “We need to get that out.”

Walk-ins are welcome, along with appointments. However, LeClair
warns that those with appointments need to keep them. If they don’t
keep their appointment, they are taking time away from others who
are on a waiting list and need to get in, he said.

There’s also something for those with dental anxiety.

“We’ve got experience and resources to address the issues of
even our youngest children,” Dr. LeClair explains. While
pre-medication works to reduce anxiety with some patients, shortly
the practice will offer nitrous oxide or conscious sedation.

LeClair said the nitrous oxide works good.

“Some fight it,” he said. “Get them to breath and relax, you can
own them.”

“Everybody is anxious when they see the dentist. That’s just the
way it is,” he said. “Somebody’s got to do it.”

For those who are anxious, LeClair suggests they come in and
talk with him.

“First gain their trust. Once you gain their trust, it’s a big
opening.”

LeClair hopes to be full time in Bradford within the year.

“Love every day you go to work,” he said of his goal. “To enjoy
going to work.”

“This has been a wonderful opportunity for me,” he added, noting
the commitment and investment of the Medical Center in both the new
location of the dental offices and BRMC’s current construction
project at its main campus.

The center’s staff also includes a dental hygienist, two dental
assistants and a receptionist.