Page 51 - Life In Naples March 2022 Flipbook

You and Your Garden

A Personal Commission

Well-known local artist Lois Selfon is looking
for a new commission to be executed in oil paint
Proactive Children’s Dental Care Helps Our Community for the spring of 2022.

by Dr. Douglas B. Keck, Lois’ art has been featured in three solo
Dental Director, Healthcare Network
shows in Southwest Florida. Now, she has
hile we are all susceptible to tooth Our mobile Health & Smiles dental clinic has also provided a
decay, oral disease disproportionately wide range of oral health services to all ages at 20 different sites decided to focus on commission work
W affects underserved populations, from Immokalee to Everglades City.
especially children. Children at most risk are The mobile units help address barriers to care such as lack of and in particular showing the subject
from lower socioeconomic families where barriers financial resources, transportation or time to travel to our physical
to care such as low caregiver health literacy, facilities in Naples, Immokalee and the Nichols Community in their gardens.
language proficiency, dental insurance and Health Center in Golden Gate.
geographic access are prevalent. In addition to our mobile units, our new pediatric dental Lois is also a master
Access to care, particularly in the parts of Collier County that practice opened at Nichols Community Health Center in 2020
gardener and when she
Healthcare Network serves, are limited by the number of dentists with support from the Naples Children & Education Foundation.
who accept Medicaid or provide variable fees for the uninsured. The state-of-the art facilities and the new center are available to
captures your garden, you
Nationally, fewer than one in four dentists see more than 100 everyone, including patients with health and dental insurance.
Medicaid-eligible children in a year. The Health Policy Institute However, as with all our services, no one is denied care based
finds that a little over half of children ages 2 to 18 have private on insurance or income status. In addition to caring for Medicaid will know it is uniquely
dental benefits, 38.5% have dental benefits through Medicaid patients, we also offer a sliding fee scale that reduces costs for yours.
and the Children’s Health Insurance program, and 10.3% have no qualified patients. In 2021, we provided more than $15 million of
dental benefits at all. uncompensated care.
Healthcare Network has been breaking down barriers to Making these pediatric dental services available to nearly 50%
primary health services in Collier County for 45 years. So, as you of children in Collier County we serve is essential to overall health
might expect, we are committed to tackling this disparity. because systemic conditions such as diabetes generally first become
Since 2004, our 40-foot-long state-of-the-art Ronald clear as mouth lesions or other oral problems. In fact, according to
McDonald Care Mobile, a partnership between Healthcare the Academy of General Dentistry, more than 90% of all systemic
Network and Ronald McDonald House Charities of SW Florida diseases produce oral signs and symptoms.
and partially funded by the Naples Children and Education An unhealthy mouth, particularly gum disease, can increase
Foundation, has provided medical and dental care to at-risk the risk of serious health problems including heart attack, stroke,
children throughout Collier County. This philanthropy-supported poorly controlled diabetes and preterm labor as well as impact
mobile pediatric dental office has provided dental screenings, school performance.
sealants, fluoride, school medical physicals and Head Start Through our care mobiles and school outreach programs, our If you are interested,
screenings. hygienists are educating children on the importance of good home please contact Lois at:
The mobile unit brings dental care to first- and second-grade care, as well as providing regular dental checkups and professional
students at 14 Collier County Title 1 elementary schools, as well cleanings. These programs are essential to our integrated health email
lselfon@comcast.net
as after-school programs, child development centers, migrant care system, where we treat the whole person by addressing
communities and a variety of family-oriented festivals. In addition, medical, behavioral and oral health concerns. text
the Care Mobile has provided school physicals for new students
239-572-1818
who are uninsured or cannot pay to get them elsewhere. Without About the Author
physicals, children are unable to attend Collier County Public Dr. Douglas B. Keck, dental director for Healthcare Network,
Schools. provides comprehensive dental care at several sites throughout “A View In The Smoky Mountains”
Collier County. To request an appointment, call 239-658-3000. Oil on linen, 40” by 60”

50 Life in Naples | March 2022 Life in Naples | March 2022 51