The Salvation Army announced a major expansion of its We Care Dental Clinic that provides free dental care to approximately 3,300 Southwest Florida residents. Thanks in part to a $296,000 grant from the Florida Blue Foundation, The Salvation Army will be able to focus more on comprehensive dental care and reduce the number of visits to the emergency room for dental issues. This grant aims to reduce visits to ER, improve oral and overall health and provide help to counter opioid crisis
Approximately 3,300 Southwest Florida residents will have access to free comprehensive dental care thanks in part to a grant from the Florida Blue Foundation to The Salvation Army’s We Care Dental Clinic. “An oral exam can be lifesaving if we’re able to identify patients showing signs of hypertension, diabetes and oral cancers,” says Daisy Ellis, Director of Health Services for The Salvation Army.
In addition to providing free dental care, the $296,000 grant from the Florida Blue Foundation will also fund screenings that detect indicators for oral cancers. These and other efforts will enable The Salvation Army’s We Care Dental Clinic to shift its focus from urgent dental care to comprehensive care and reduce visits to the emergency room for dental issues.
Emergency rooms have seen a dramatic increase in patients seeking treatment for dental pain. Uninsured patients often go to an emergency room when they are in pain and in need of urgent care.There were nearly 164,000 dental related visits to emergency facilities in Florida costing more than $193 million in 2014 according to a recent study published in the Journal of Public Health Dentistry.
“Good oral health is vital to overall health. The work of The Salvation Army’s We Care Dental Clinic helps prevent infections that could lead to cardiovascular issues and other complications if left untreated. Their dental professionals can also identify possible signs of diabetes, high blood pressure or other health conditions and help patients proactively seek treatment,” said David Pizzo, Florida Blue Market President, West Florida Region.
“An oral exam can be lifesaving if we’re able to identify patients showing signs of hypertension, diabetes and oral cancers,” says Daisy Ellis, Director of Health Services for The Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army’s We Care Dental Clinic may also provide some help in countering the opioid crisis in Lee County. “By increasing access to quality dental care for prevention and treatment, we are able to reduce the need to visit emergency rooms for urgent pain management due to dental issues,” said Ellis.
The Salvation Army’s We Care Dental Clinic, located in Fort Myers, serves uninsured individuals between the ages of 19 and 64, whose household income is 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Rate, and is by appointment only. Those in need of care can call (239) 334-3745 for a pre-screening interview and follow-up.
About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar spent is used to carry out those services in Lee, Hendry and Glades Counties. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyleecounty.org. The Salvation Army is proud to be a United Way partner agency.