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Dental Grant Supplies
NorthShore With
Innovative Programs
ith grants received
from the Delta Dental
Foundation, NorthShore
Health Center is able to bring
innovative and beneficial dental
resources to their patients.
NorthShore Heath Centers
provides quality, affordable
healthcare services at multiple
locations across Porter, Lake, La
Porte, and Jasper counties.
Their clinics and offices offer
primary care as well as many
specialties, including dental
services. They are equipped with
advanced diagnostic and imaging
technology to provide the best
possible care to all patients,
regardless of insurance status.
Dr. Firas Adhami is the Director
of Dentistry at NorthShore Health
Centers. Since graduating dental
school in 2015, he has been
practicing public health dentistry
at different health centers
in Wisconsin and Indiana. He
joined NorthShore Health Centers
in October 2024 and is excited to
provide dental services at its new
Gary and Merrillville locations.
“Every health center I’ve
worked at runs significantly
differently, but in the end, all
of them are helping patients
regardless of insurance,” says
Adhami. He notes that some of the
latest initiatives and programs at
NorthShore are part of the reason
he enjoys his work that makes a
difference in patients’ lives.
Preventative dental care for
young children may not be the
first thing that parents think about
during well-child visits. “Parents
focus on weight, heights, and
vaccines,” Adhami explains. “But
if you look at the body to keep it
healthy, the
mouth is an
important
part of that.”
Fluoride
varnish is one
treatment
that benefits
toddlers by
preventing
tooth decay
and reducing
the risk of
cavities
developing
in baby teeth.
“A six-month
varnish application can make
toddler teeth stronger. They may
have a few teeth, but it is essential
to maintain their health.”
However, pediatric dental
exams are often not a top priority,
especially for those without
insurance. Dr. Adhami shares data
on NorthShore patients between
the ages of 1 and 3 years old. “Last
year, the dental department saw
151 patients while the medical
department saw 12,035.”
Through a grant by Delta
Dental Foundation, NorthShore
www.northshorehealth.org
219-841-5070
Health Centers received 5,950
fluoride varnish applications for
patients between the ages of one
and three years old. The program
also provided training and
supplies for the medical team that
takes care of well-child visits. “Our
medical colleagues
are able to provide
this intervention at
the same time that
children are weighed
and vaccinated. It’s
a pretty innovative
initiative.”
The dental team at
NorthShore Health
Centers also
provides outreach to
preschools, offering
screenings, fluoride
applications, and
education about
good oral hygiene.
Give Kids a Smile Day, a program
held every year on the first Friday
of February and August, provides
free cleanings, X-rays, sealants, and
fluoride varnish for children ages
1 to 17 who are not covered by
insurance. Community outreach is
especially important for those who
may have difficulty visiting a clinic,
and maintaining a clean, healthy
mouth is essential for everyone,
regardless of insurance coverage.
A separate Delta Dental
Foundation grant also funded
special scanning equipment for
the dental team. This innovative
technology simplifies the process
of taking impressions and
reduces some of the discomfort
patients may associate with
dental procedures. Dr. Adhami
explains, “Instead of using
impression material that can be
uncomfortable or taste bad, we
use an instrument that looks like
a camera in the patient’s mouth.
It takes images of the teeth which
we send electronically to the lab. It
increases the accessibility and
speed for dentures, crowns, and
bridges.” He is enthusiastic about
the technology and hopes that it
will elevate the patient experience.
“I am thankful for the people
who made all this happen,” says
Adhami. “Tricia Hall, our Senior
Director of Brand Strategy, who
applied for the grants. Also, the
Delta Dental Foundation for their
contributions to NorthShore, and
health centers and causes.”
Dr. Adhami connects these
efforts with the mission of
NorthShore Health Centers,
which is “to provide the most
comprehensive and quality
healthcare, without exclusion, to
everyone, every time.“
“These initiatives are examples
of how NorthShore lives its mission
every day.”
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