Greater Moriches coverage is funded in part by Peconic Bay Medical Center, a place that is here for life’s most defining moments.

For members of the Unkechaug Indian Nation, a visit to the dentist has never been easy. For many, it hasn’t even been possible.

The hundreds of people living on the Poospatuck Reservation in Mastic have struggled for decades to access even basic dental care, from routine screenings to cleanings.

In the 1990s, members were given insurance cards through the American Indian Health Program. But the only dependable institution accepting their coverage and providing care has been the Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine, a long and potentially expensive trip for the many members who rely on public transportation.

“Something as simple as transportation can be the difference between someone receiving dental care and putting it off,” said Maria Chamorro, executive director of health services for the Unkechaug Nation.

Olga Harris, who has lived in the community since the 1980s, said financial barriers have left some with no choice but to “keep to themselves and just deal with it” when it comes to medical issues.