 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Yellow Cab offer makes mobile dental unit moot
By RYAN DAVIS © St. Petersburg Times, published October 11, 2000 Affordable dental care for domestic violence victims won more support Tuesday. Although the project isn't final, the service already is available. The provider group, which includes health officials and domestic violence advocates, scrapped plans for a mobile dental unit Tuesday after Yellow Cab Co. agreed to provide free rides for victims who need to get to a dentist's office. "It's quite possible that because of the private sector involvement we won't need to request state funding," said spokesman Greg Giordano, who represents State Rep. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey. Those involved in the program said they don't know of a similar program anywhere. It is intended to address an often-forgotten effect of domestic abuse: the victim's teeth. With chipped and missing teeth, victims are less likely to get jobs and maintain high self-esteem, domestic violence advocates said. The program estimates it will serve about 20 victims with damaged teeth each year, said Angela Littlefield, the manager of Gulf Coast Community Care's Hudson homeless shelter for women and children. It may eventually expand to treat more victims whose teeth have been neglected because the abuser would not let them seek dental care. "If people feel good about themselves, they'll be smiling, spreading the word," said Pat Holihan, the owner of Paradent Dental Lab in New Port Richey and the group's founder. With a referral from west Pasco's Salvation Army Domestic Violence Program, Gulf Coast Community Care or east Pasco's Sunrise of Pasco Inc., a victim can get a ride to a dental office. The referral process has not been finalized but is a necessary step because it will ensure the victim does not have insurance and is seeking help from a shelter, Giordano said. "You don't want to provide this service to someone who is going back to a similar situation and will be back in two months needing the same treatment," Giordano said. The approximately 60-member West Pasco Dental Association has latched on to the program and will develop a rotation of dentists on call to provide services, Holihan said. Pasco-Hernando Community College's dental program and the Pasco County Health Department also joined the group for Tuesday's meeting in Fasano's office. The three service providers will form a cooperative, with the college providing cleanings and X-rays, the health department providing X-rays and minor work, and the private dentists doing major work, such as oral surgery, said Dental Director Dr. Ray Anel of the health department. For major work, some private dentists may charge a small fee, Anel said. "It's not all going to be free," Holihan said. He hatched the mobile dental unit idea this summer and initially proposed buying a gutted mobile home, which would be converted into a dentist's office on wheels. The group has served two clients -- a woman who had two of her teeth knocked back so she couldn't close her mouth, and a woman who had all her teeth, which were neglected and damaged, extracted earlier this month. She will be fitted for dentures in the next week, Holihan said. On Nov. 14, the group will meet todefine the roles of each agency, Holihan said. It will turn its focus to east Pasco, where services are available but would require a trip to the west side of the county. "If somebody on the east side had a problem today and they tried to get help," Giordano said, "help would be found." -- Ryan Davis covers higher education and social services in Pasco. He can be reached at 800-333-7505 ext. 3452 or by e-mail at rdavis@sptimes.com.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
From today's Pasco Times |
