Page 48 - LIN March-2023 50-84-sent

Taking the Fear out of

Pediatric Dentistry

while Helping the

Community

by Dr. Douglas B. Keck,
Dental Director for Healthcare Network Being able to provide this service to our patients is part of
Healthcare Network’s mission to offer affordable healthcare for all.
ear of dentists is estimated to affect more State-of-the art pediatric dental facilities in Golden Gate at Nichols
than one-third of adults. For many, this Community Health Center are available to all families, including
F anxiety stems from a negative childhood patients with health and dental insurance.
dental experience. However, as with all our services, no one is denied care based
Children’s dental care should start every six on insurance or income status. In addition to caring for Medicaid
months around age one when baby teeth emerge. patients, we also offer a sliding fee scale that reduces costs for
Tooth decay is the most common preventable qualified patients.
chronic disease among children in the United The Health Policy Institute finds that a little over half of
States. If left untreated, it can negatively affect a child’s physical and children ages 2 to 18 have private dental benefits, nearly 40%
social development, as well as school performance. have dental benefits through Medicaid and the Children’s Health
For the health of their teeth and their emotional well-being, it is Insurance program and more than one-tenth have no dental
important to help children overcome dental anxiety or not develop benefits at all. Additionally, access to dental care is also greatly
it in the first place. limited by the number of dentists who accept Medicaid or provide
Healthcare Network dentists encourage early and routine visits variable fees for the uninsured.
and walk children through the procedures to help reduce fears. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Our Ronald McDonald Care Mobile also travels to at-risk schools (CDC), children at most risk for tooth decay and oral disease are
in Collier County to perform dental screenings and prevention, from lower socioeconomic families where barriers to care such as
introducing children to dentistry at a young age. caregiver low health literacy, language proficiency, lack of dental
Recently, with tremendous support from the Naples Children insurance and geographic access are prevalent.
& Education Foundation (NCEF), the founding organization of As a result, we often see children who are experiencing
the Naples Winter Wine Festival, we introduced intravenous (IV) severe pain and infection during their first dental visit. The
sedation to our pediatric dental program in addition to existing discomfort, coupled with possible fears about the procedure, can
nitrous oxide sedation. be overwhelming. Offering sedation helps ease the discomfort and
These enhancements help support pediatric patients who may anxiety in these situations and during preventive services.
need several procedures to be done during a single visit, suffer from Offering comfortable dental services doesn’t just benefit
severe dental anxiety and/or have a medical, physical or emotional Healthcare Network patients. Making pediatric dental services
disability that limits their ability to understand directions and available to nearly half of Collier County children we serve is
remain calm. For children who have a sensitive gag reflex, sedation essential to overall community health. According to the Academy of
dentistry can help diminish the sensation of choking or the urge to General Dentistry, more than 90% of all systemic diseases produce
vomit. oral signs and symptoms.
IV sedation allows the child to remain conscious throughout About the Author
the treatment, but also to remain calm and comfortable until the Dr. Douglas B. Keck is dental director for Healthcare Network, which
procedure is complete, when the child will have little to no memory provides comprehensive dental care at several sites throughout Collier
of it. Children can return to school or play the next day and can County. For more information on pediatric dental sedation visit www.
drink and eat soft foods soon after the procedure. HealthcareSWFL.org or call 239-658-3000 to schedule an appointment.

239-658-3000 HealthcareSWFL.org SUPPORT: healthcareswfl.org/donate/

48 Life in Naples | March 2023