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Success Stories
Projects: Homeless Shelters
Stories: Two individuals. Countless smiles.
Letter from “Joseph” to Broward Partnership for the Homeless
Thank you so much for this opportunity of a second chance to start a new and improved way of life.
I’ve been thinking and it’s hard to imagine what a smile on my face would look like with more teeth, not to mention how much easier it would be to bite and chew. To picture myself with a nice smile has already lifted my morale.
I’m looking forward to meeting people without being embarrassed or ashamed to smile or show my teeth. It’s been many years (20) hiding behind a horrible smile or laugh with no t teeth is a hard way to live. Thank God and PRHI that I will have one less obstacle to jump over. I’m very excited about the idea of smiling without having stress or emotional thoughts run through my mind. Thank you all again, especially Dr. Silverberg and her technicians. Note: Joseph received his dental work and now has a beautiful smile!
Letter to Community Partnership for Homeless
An adult male stated that the (dental) experience has changed his life and is opening new opportunities in terms of work and personal relationships. He said that his mouth was healthy and looked great and so he feels confident and secure about himself.
“Look my teeth were terrible. I couldn’t even smile and now look…they are great! Before when I looked at myself in the mirror and felt bad, I was feeling bad for myself. I had no self esteem. I did not want to go out or talk to people. But now I look in the mirror and feel great. I even see myself a bit handsome! Now I fee secure when I apply for jobs and when I talk to people.”
“You know, when I go inside the dental unit I feel so much happiness inside….and it is the same when I get out, you can’t imagine, this clinic has been good for my teeth and my soul., the attention is excellent, the services are great, now I feel like a different person!”
Project: Miami Children’s Hospital’s Healthy Smile Happy Face Dental Mobile Unit
Story: Going the Extra Mile for Smiles
This story begins when the Dental Mobile Unit got on the road in 2007. In its first two years, more than 1,300 underserved children received dental exams, cleanings, x-rays, fluoride applications and restorative care. The mobile unit also carried out oral education and instructions to over 1,500 children. Being the only one of its kind in South Florida, Miami Children’s Hospital mobile unit targets uninsured and Medicaid recipient children who generally have extremely limited access to dental health care.
Of all the children they have treated, one particular patient touched their entire dental mobile unit staff. This patient was a female teenager in the foster care system. Several years back when she was ten years of age she was struck by a motor vehicle and suffered oral consequences of losing five permanent front teeth in addition to other injuries.
This patient requested that the staff “fix her” so she could go back to smiling. Through the Health Foundation funding, they were able to sedate this apprehensive patient, complete her restorative needs and start her on an orthodontic plan. Today, she has a beautiful smile and is truly appreciative of the treatment she received and considers becoming a dentist in the future.
Program: Rural Health Network of Monroe County’s Dental Expansion Program
Story: The Key to Access to Affordable, Quality Dental Care
The Upper Keys are known for many things, like great Key Lime pie and fishing. But if tried to find a convenient and affordable place for dental services, that would be difficult to find. Until now. Funding was provided to expand the dental operations of Rural Health Network of Monroe County.
Patients who previously had to travel approximately 50 miles each way on a single lane road now have a well-equipped dental clinic in the Upper Keys. Local residents now have improved access to affordable dental care, opportunity to receive information on the need for examinations and screenings, as well as cleanings and all the benefits that come from increased collaboration within the Upper Keys community and within Monroe County.
The dental clinic in Key Largo/Tavernier will consist of one dentist and a part time hygienist with two operatories. Affordable and quality dental care. Now that’s even sweeter than key lime pie!
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