OUR GOAL…To make a positive and lasting impact on every person, community program, or event we serve.
Ocean Dental’s primary objective is to provide the children and adults of our communities the high quality dental care they need and deserve. By collaborating with the following groups, we have the opportunity to contribute to a series of outreach programs and services in each unique community.
SOCIAL SERVICES
Parents seeking dental care for their children already know that it can be a struggle to find a dentist that accepts new Medicaid patients. Ocean Dental has dedicated Community Awareness Representatives who cooperate with each community’s Health Department, Department of Human Services, and other social organizations to ensure that children and young adults in each community are aware of the services we have available for them. Not only does Ocean Dental offer services for children and young adults, some clinics are able to accommodate adult patients over the age of 21. For example, we are able to treat pregnant women in most of our clinics. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, about half of women experience pregnancy gingivitis. This condition can be uncomfortable and cause swelling, bleeding, redness or tenderness in the gum tissue. Conversely, a more advanced oral health condition called periodontal disease (a serious gum infection that destroys attachment fibers and supporting bone that hold teeth in the mouth) may affect the health of unborn babies. This is why Ocean Dental worked so hard to open their services to accept pregnant patients.
EDUCATION
Ocean Dental provides free oral hygiene instruction and school screenings to elementary schools. We developed a system to make it possible for schools to provide this valuable service (free of charge) to their students. The Community Awareness Representative instructs students on proper hygiene. A licensed dental professional completes the limited oral exam and informs the representative of the findings, which will be noted on the screening form sent home to parents. Each participating student receives a toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss.
PHYSICIANS REFERRALS
Ocean Dental has relationships with thousands of physicians and dentists who are working together to address every child’s dental health needs. The Community Awareness team routinely visits medical and dental offices to update them on Ocean Dental’s practices and procedures. Our representatives also seek feedback from physicians and dental offices on how we can better reach and serve children and adults.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
The Community Awareness team attends a variety of local events, such as Health Fairs, Resource Fairs and Screenings, to educate communities on the importance of dental hygiene and overall oral health care. While sharing with the public about Ocean Dental services, representatives often take the opportunity to give away toothbrushes, toothpaste and dental floss. Every event offers a chance for the representative to actively inform each person about what proper dental hygiene can do not only for them, but also for their friends and family.
