Challenges

- Dental care has been consistently ranked as one of the top unmet needs for the population experiencing homelessness, due to factors such as a lack of access to affordable dental care and oral health education.

- Poor oral hygiene can lead to a variety of health problems such as gum disease, infection, bone loss, heart disease, strokes and more.

- Poor dentition or missing teeth may also result in impaired speech, a loss of confidence and leave individuals at a significant disadvantage when seeking employment.

Solutions

The Partnership’s Smiles Work! Dental Program helps to restore the oral health of the program participants and to repair dentition so it is no longer a barrier to seeking and securing gainful employment. Typical dental services provided at the on-site clinic include:

- Deep cleanings, fillings and extractions.

- Restorative services, such as composite and amalgam fillings.

- Diagnosis and treatment of diseases, injuries and malformations of the teeth and mouth.

- X-rays and screening for oral cancer.

- Education about the importance of maintaining oral health.

2014 Accomplishments

- 400 patients were seen at the on-site clinic.

- 2,005 patient encounters occurred.

- 8,278 dental procedures were performed.

Funders & Partners

The Batchelor Foundation

Broward College

Coventry Health Care of Florida

Health Foundation of South Florida