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Special Dental Clinic Gives Kids a Reason to Smile
When a Millville kindergartner needed advanced dental care, his father knew he could turn to
K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital.
When 5-year-old Samuel
Rosado's father, Sam, was told
that Samuel needed a root
canal on every tooth because of his
cavities, Sam knew something needed
to be done quickly. But due to insurance
issues, Samuel's dentist could not perform
the necessary procedure in his office.
The dentist referred them to Donn
Winokur, DDS, and the pediatric outpatient
dental clinic at K. Hovnanian
Children's Hospital.
Fortunately for the Rosado family,
Dr. Winokur, a specialist in pediatric dentistry,
recognized the urgency for a pediatric
dental clinic in the area. He teamed
up with K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital
and created this haven for children whose parents cannot afford dental care or do not
have adequate dental insurance coverage.
"Not taking care of your teeth
properly has massive side effects," says
Dr. Winokur. "Dental neglect could cause
pain, infection, and loss of function. In
same cases, it could cause trips to the
Emergency Department and even lead to
death. I can't stress the importance of taking
care of your teeth enough."
Because of this need for dental care,
Dr. Winokur and the dental clinic have
educational outreach programs and close
relationships with many school nurses to
help monitor the dental health of those
who can't afford it.
"We have a great relationship with area
schools, especially those in the Abbott
districts. If children miss their biannual
checkup, we fax a letter to the school
nurse so that he or she can follow up with
the parents. We feel we have a responsibility
to provide for our community, and
we take it very seriously," he adds.
In Samuel's case, Dr. Winokur was able to
do the root canals in one day at their ambulatory
care center. "He did a really good job,
and all of the nurses and hygienists made
sure Samuel was comfortable," says Sam.
Samuel's follow-up appointment
proved that his procedure was a success
and he is now on his way to great dental
health.
 – Laura Pollio
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