Restoring a smile: Grant helps The Wright Center mend Korean War veteran’s mouth

Drianna Santiago, a dental assistant at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton, chats with Francis Piraino during a break in his appointment to have teeth extracted.
Francis Piraino survived the Korean War, a near-fatal aneurysm, and the deaths of his youngest son, Vincent, followed by his wife, Barbara.
But the lifelong Northeast Pennsylvania resident needed a little help from The Wright Center for Community Health to survive his most recent challenge: crumbling teeth that posed a serious threat to his health.
His dental health problems began about five years ago, his daughters Cynthia Olinyk and Theresa Planchock recalled. Back then, amid the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Piraino concentrated on Barbara, who had Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia. She passed away in 2022, just a month before their 70th wedding anniversary.

Dr. Caitlin McCarthy, left, a dentist at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton, and Drianna Santiago, right, a dental assistant, extract Francis Piraino’s teeth during a recent appointment.
“Dad’s teeth were breaking, just wearing down,” Olinyk said. “He kept talking about getting implants, but then he’d change his mind. He didn’t really have time to focus on his health.”
Eventually, his cardiologist at the VA Hospital in Wilkes-Barre became concerned. After undergoing surgery in 2018 to repair a thoracic aortic aneurysm, Piraino was seeing the specialist at regular intervals. The doctor explained that gum disease can affect more than just your mouth. The bacteria that cause gum disease can enter the bloodstream and trigger or worsen serious health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, respiratory illnesses like pneumonia, autoimmune disorders, dementia, and even certain cancers.

Francis Piraino, a Northeast Pennsylvania native and Korean War veteran, receives oral care during a dental session with Dr. Caitlin McCarthy, a dentist at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton. After years of gum disease that threatened his heart health, he is getting a new smile thanks to a grant from the McGowan Charitable Fund.
“We knew we had to take dad’s teeth problems seriously,” Planchock said. “Dad’s cardiologist made it clear that we couldn’t ignore it any longer.”
They met with several dentists about repairing Piraino’s teeth, but the price estimates left them reeling; it would cost about $17,000 just to have what remained of his teeth pulled. That didn’t include office visits, X-rays, or the dentures he would need.
“We don’t have that kind of money,” Planchock said. “I don’t know a lot of people who do.”
The VA cardiologist recommended the family try The Wright Center, which offers high-quality, whole-person primary health services – including dental, behavioral health, and addiction and recovery services – regardless of a patient’s insurance status, ZIP code, or ability to pay.
The Wright Center’s dental team in Scranton, led by Dr. Caitlin McCarthy, was able to help Piraino, thanks to a grant awarded by the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund. The grant is earmarked for patients who require dentures or other prosthetics after losing their teeth to injury or disease. Cost and access remain significant obstacles locally, Dr. McCarthy said.
“Low-income populations of all ages experience the lowest access to oral health care,” Dr. McCarthy said. “Medicaid or CHIP covers children, but there’s minimal assistance for adults.”
In the U.S., 96% of all adults 65 and older who still have their natural teeth have experienced tooth decay in their lifetime, with untreated tooth decay present in one of six people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Older adults living in poverty were at least three times more likely to have untreated tooth decay than their higher-income counterparts. Gum disease in older adults is particularly worrisome because many have other health concerns that could be worsened by gum disease.
In Piraino’s case, Dr. McCarthy and her staff first extracted what was left of his teeth over the course of several appointments. Doing the work all at once can put a patient through unnecessary pain and stress, the dentist explained.

Dr. Caitlin McCarthy
After Piraino’s mouth heals, Dr. McCarthy and her staff will begin fitting him for a full set of dentures. If everything goes according to plan, he should have a brand new set of teeth by Christmas – though Piraino is hoping the work will be done in time for Thanksgiving.
“I want to eat,” he said with a laugh, adding that his ongoing dental problems have made it difficult to enjoy a variety of food, including apples and corn on the cob. “I’m looking forward to having it all done.”
The father of five and grandfather of eight is also excited to show off a new smile to match his dapper clothes, which his daughters said are one of his trademarks. He rarely appears in public without donning a tie and a vest, whether he’s serving as a greeter at his church every Sunday, running errands, or visiting Dr. McCarthy at The Wright Center.
“Since he began having problems with his teeth, I think looking nice is important to him,” Olinyk said. “He’s been cheerful about the ordeal with his teeth, but I think having a new smile will restore that little bit of confidence he lost.”
Dr. McCarthy said she’s excited to give Piraino a new smile, noting that she became a dentist to help people live healthier lives.
“We spend a lot of time discussing the best approach to every individual’s care,” she said. “I’m looking forward to giving him a better quality of life and a nice smile to match his personality.”