A foster child gets much-needed care from a volunteer dentist.
In Florida, one in every five adults is unable to see a dentist due to the cost. Children fare slightly better, thanks to more government and volunteer programs aimed at their age group, but even for kids there is still far more demand than supply — especially for anything that goes beyond routine check-ups and fillings.
Part of the problem: Fewer than 8 percent of the state’s dentists accept patients on Medicaid.
But several organizations are working hard to change the situation for Central Florida adults and children.
Recently, the Florida Dental Association partnered with the nonprofit Community-Based Care of Central Florida to provide free dental screenings, cleanings and restorations to 50 Orlando-area children in the state’s foster-care system. (CBC is the agency that contracts with the state to manage foster care in Central Florida.)
“Often, youth enter foster care already suffering from serious dental concerns or neglect,” said David Wilkins, secretary of the Florida Department of Children and Families. “It’s more than simply good oral hygiene. A healthy smile promotes confidence and self-esteem.”
Children teased for the way their teeth look can be profoundly affected by the experience. And at their most extreme, tooth decay and gum disease can be deadly.
Earlier this month, CBC chose 50 kids with the greatest needs for treatment,then brought in dental buses to the parking lot of the Gaylord Palms Convention Center. For the Florida Dental Association, the volunteer effort was the latest episode of its ”Project: Dentists Care.”
In Bithlo, a $100,000 grant awarded to the Florida Hospital Foundation is funding an ongoing dental clinic for low-income adults and their children.
“With 17 percent of families in the community living below the poverty line, dental care is often ignored until an emergency situation occurs,” says Florida Hospital spokeswoman Ashley White.
The grant — from the charitable foundation of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida — is being used for a mobile dental clinic once a month in Bithlo. Both children and adults are able to get fillings, extractions and other restorative dental care, and the program also offers cleanings, fluoride varnishes and dental hygiene education.
“We want to improve access to health care in this community,” said Verbelee Neilsen-Swanson, vice president of Florida Hospital Community Impact, ”and dental care is an essential health care need that is often overlooked.”
