Get to Know McKenzie Taylor

When most people picture addiction treatment, they think of counselors, physicians, and medication. Dentists rarely come to mind. McKenzie Taylor, a general dentist and Bloomberg Fellow, wants to change that. 

Taylor works full time at the Wright Center for Community Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where she sees patients who often have nowhere else to turn for dental care. She also serves as faculty for NYU Langone Health's Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency and teaches residents and community members about oral health. While many students are steered towards private practice, Taylor chose public health dentistry. 

That choice puts her at the center of a problem that gets little attention. Active addiction often leads to poor home care and missed dental hygiene visits. Medications for opioid use disorder can also contribute to tooth decay and other oral health problems. Patients in recovery may be doing everything right in their treatment and still face a mouth that has been damaged by years of neglect or by the treatment itself. 

Then come the barriers. Cost, transportation, and limited access to dental providers already keep many people out of the chair. Shame about substance use adds another layer. "Patients arrive in my practice with extensive treatment plans and few resources to complete them," Taylor says. "A dentist who understands this history can meet them without judgment and work with them to build a realistic path forward that helps them continue in their recovery and feel proud of the work they are putting in." 

Oral health also affects recovery in practical ways. Pain, missing teeth, and visible decay influence how a person eats, speaks, and feels about walking into a job interview or a family gathering. Treating the mouth supports the rest of the person's health. 

When looking for a master program, McKenzie knew she wanted to continue working in public health but was unsure how to fit one around a full clinical schedule. After the National Association of Community Health Centers shared the fellowship opportunity with her organization, she was struck by the range of careers and backgrounds among the fellows. Through the Fellowship, McKenzie hopes to learn from the Initiative's vast network while continuing to serve her patients and community.