Free Dental Screening at the Mall on Saturday
Press release from Department of Health and Human Services:
February is Children’s Dental Health Month, and Smile Humboldt and its partner organizations are inviting residents come to a free dental health fair Saturday, Feb. 22, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bayshore Mall. Stop by to learn about when children should have their first dental visit, meet a local dentist and receive a free dental screening.
There will be displays on how to avoid cavities and how to brush and floss at different ages. Information on healthy snacks and drinks and how tobacco and sugary drinks can hurt teeth will also be available.
“Children’s teeth are meant to last a lifetime, and a healthy smile adds to how kids feel about themselves,” said Laura McEwen, Oral Health Services Program Coordinator at the Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services. “With regular brushing and flossing, a good diet and regular dental visits, their teeth will be healthy and strong.”
Look for signs in the Bayshore Mall about how to make dental care easier at home and dental tips in displays at Humboldt County’s public libraries and Family Resource Centers.
The Bayshore Mall is located at 3300 Broadway in Eureka.
For more information on how to care for your teeth at any age, visit www.smilehumboldt.org.
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Will they have reasonable answers as to why there is all but 2 providers for medical? Or is this for all the dentists otherwise? Or area is beyond under served but the dental industry. I pay out of pocket for my kids, and have to drive nearly 4 hours one way to get competent dental help. The Burre Dental Center is a horrible joke! Hasn’t accepted need patients in over 10 years and has only 2 licensed dentist to serve the entire counties medical serviced citizens? Pat yourself on the backs for something you deserve DHHS. This is simply a ploy to appear caring!
🕯🌳Good morning Kym, but I’ll have to second that. 👍🏽🇺🇸👍🏽🇺🇸
Too bad you have such an issue with dental care providers in the area. But just as you mentioned, this an underserved area for medical and dental services. You could always move to where services are more available to address your needs….or you can stay here and blame everyone else for your problems.
Decay and gum diseases, for the most part…and with minimal time and effort…can be almost completely avoided with regular flossing and brushing so if you let your kids slide on those basic steps you only have yourself to blame. Doesn’t matter what your socioeconomic profile is, there is no excuse for not brushing and flossing your teeth or maintaining basic personal hygiene regardless of your income situation
I have to say you missed a few dental problems. I’ve a family member that gets Medi-Cal and there were no dentists here to deal with her wisdom teeth. I’m paying for it. And yes to a certain extent some dental issues can be avoided but rarely is that the kid’s fault. And our lack of low cost dental care is hard on the youth and their families.
🕯🌳Bravo.👍🏽🇺🇸
Redwoods Rural has dental services. Medi-cal for some things, sliding scale for low income people. I had a very thorough exam recently from a real dentist.
Unfortunately medi-cal doesn’t contract with private dentists, only the two clinics. These clinics receive funding, unlike a private dentist who has a lot of overhead. The rates medi-cal pays for treatment wouldn’t even cover a private dentist’s cost to see that patient.
Access to medical / dental care in Humboldt County is poor at best. The providers are pretty good but there are just not enough of them.
Most dental problems for young kids revolve around poor hygiene issues that result in decay. They can still get decay – of coarse — but the incidence drops dramatically with regular home care – supervised by a parent. Throw in that toxic chemical Fluoride and it drops further.
The “system or lack of providers” shouldn’t be blamed for neglect.
Widsom teeth on the other hand are not typically the problem for a young child — but they can be a problem for young adults. You are right, most dentists won’t tackle wisdom teeth so an oral surgeon is required … and there is only one in Humbco. that I am aware of.
As for low cost dental care….that is probably a myth…like low cost housing. Low cost does not equate with subsidized. I know for a fact that you can drive to Redding to American Dental (or whatever it is) to have wisdom teeth pulled out but it didn’t seem all that cheap to me. Only problem is you get there and then get the run around. Then after making 3 trips, the wisdom teeth are finally pulled out. Is that low cost after you add up all your expenses for 3 to 4 trips? But, maybe that’s the best we can do living where we live.
My wife and I are currently both on Partnership and recently given the information about MTM transportation. Basically it works like this,
Download a trip log and instructions
Call the phone number at least 5 days prior to the appointment
Give the information asked including the medi-cal Id number
Have the form signed at the provider during the visit
Return the form as per instructions
Family members or friends get reimbursed .30 per mile round trip
It’s not much but it’s a fairly simple process that covers a tank of gas especially if you have to go to Western Dental in Redding. I don’t think most people know about this, we certainly didn’t and Partnership doesn’t advertise it. People in Southern Humboldt can go to Eureka, I have been reimbursed to go to Santa Rosa and back.
Better than nothing
Thank you for the information!
You havta go to santa rosa or redding. Yes reds rural takes denti-cal but they are the only ones so issues that require multiple visits cant really be treated, appts are usually 12 weeks out and if you dont go once a year you get bumped to new patient status.
🕯🌳I agree thank you. 👍🏽👍🏽
Dental therapists have been tried with great success in some states, a simple filling can cost much less, but ADA intransigence, and the resistance of some dentists to have their income lessened while they are trying to pay off their school debts and expensive equipment seem to be the main roadblock to a cheaper drill and fill alternative system.
It is nice to have good healthy teeth, but paying for a dental visit and work will generally cost you an arm and leg just about everywhere. What good is dental screening if you can’t pay for the work needed?