Rotary Happenings: Project Dentists Care helps to give residents back their smile
Ever have a toothache? It can be excruciating. If you’re lucky you have dental insurance or can afford to be self-insured. But for a large majority of people in this country, the cost of dental care is prohibitive. The Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club’s guest speaker on Nov. 30 was periodontist Cynthia L. Deragon, of Fort Myers, who spoke about Project Dentists Care in Lee County.
Deragon has an extensive resume, including serving as the president of the Lee County Dental Society from 2000-2001 and 2011-2012. In 2018, she served on the fundraising committee for Mission of Mercy, the Florida Dental Foundation’s project which provides free dental care to the underserved utilizing volunteer dentists and their teams around the United States. Her committee raised approximately $400,000 to bring MOM to the Lee Civic Center in March, where 2,000 patients were seen and treated. There is a need in Lee for low-cost and free dental services for many reasons.
Deragon now works with Executive Director Dr. William Truax Sr. fund raising for the local dental clinic, Project Dentists Care, located on McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers. PDC treats thousands of needy adults and families in Lee. PDC is a low-income dental clinic sponsored by the Lee County Dental Society and is staffed by dentists who volunteer time on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings. There are currently 45 dentists that give various amounts of time to the cause annually.
The clinic recently moved its office to the new location, at 2051 McGregor Blvd., giving staff more space which allows them to see more patients. The clinic has the latest dental equipment and services. A full-time scheduler-secretary and dental assistant are the only paid staff. With contributions from the United Way, Florida Department of Health-Lee County and generous donors, PDC was able to service over 2,000 patients last year.
Project Dentists Care wants to get the word out that it is here to help people who have traditionally had no other place to go but an emergency room when they could no longer stand the pain from decaying teeth. Hospital ERs don’t employ dentists, so doctors can do little more for patients than give them painkillers and antibiotics. It helps in the short run but not in the long run. They often refer patients to PDC.
Deragon explained that a person’s oral health is an indicator of their physical health, but mental health is also affected. Presenting one’s self to others with a smile makes that first important impression. Truax and his team of dedicated dentists not only bring back their patients’ smiles, but they do so much more. They can renew a spirit. Deragon spoke of patients who cried after seeing themselves for the first time – in a long time – smile again. They regain hope for the better days ahead with a big smile.
I can remember comedian Jim Durante, singing the song “Smile” “When you’re smiling, When you’re smiling, The whole world smiles with you, When you’re laughing, When you’re laughing,
The sun comes shining through, But when you’re crying you bring on the rain, So stop your sighing be happy again, Keep on smiling ’cause when you’re smiling, The whole world smiles with you.”
For more information about Project Dentists Care, contact 239-561-1949.
For information about the Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club, visit sanibelrotary.org or www.facebook.com/sancaprotary. The club meets every Friday at 7 a.m. at the Dunes Golf and Tennis Club, at 949 Sand Castle Road, Sanibel; visitors are welcome to attend.