NorthShore Health Centers Receives $2,500 from Delta Dental Foundation to Improve Oral Health in Lake and Porter Counties in Indiana

rot2NorthShore Health Centers recently received $2,500 from the Delta Dental Foundation to help our post-partum mothers on traditional Medicaid insurance receive additional dental care after their Medicaid benefits expire.

Currently, in the state of Indiana, pregnant patients that have traditional Medicaid insurance are cut from benefits, including dental services, 6-8 weeks after delivery. This is a very short window to get dental work completed in a very busy time in a new mother’s life. With these funds, NorthShore will be able to extend the dental benefits to 6 months post-partum and focus on educating new mothers on their and their baby’s oral health.

“NorthShore is in a unique position,” said Dr. Brian Douts, DDS, Dental Director for NorthShore Health Centers. “Our clinics have both medical and dental services under one roof allowing our OB/GYN and dental staff to ensure our pregnant mothers stay healthy during pregnancy and continue to educate them on preventative care after delivery.”

The Delta Dental Foundation is focused on ensuring that children and adults in Indiana receive high quality oral health education and high-quality dental care. Through its Brighter Futures initiative, Delta Dental is committed to improving people’s oral and overall health and well-being through advocacy, education, and philanthropy.

“We are proud to recognize the work being done by NorthShore Health Centers by selecting it as one of our grant recipients,” said Teri Battaglieri, Delta Dental Foundation Director. “By increasing access to dental care, we can help improve the oral and overall health and well-being of children and adults by preventing serious health issues down the road.”

About NorthShore Health Centers NorthShore Health Center is a not-for-profit community based health and education center providing healthcare and dental services to everyone including the uninsured and underinsured community of Northwest Indiana. Our mission is to ensure that each individual has a medical home and access to the highest quality healthcare, regardless of gender, age, race, social or cultural standing and/or ability to pay. For more information, visit www.northshorehelath.org.

About the Delta Dental Foundation The Delta Dental Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization established in 1980, which serves as the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and North Carolina. The foundation’s goals are to support education and research for the advancement of dental science, and to promote the oral health of the public through education and service activities, particularly for those with special needs. For more information, visit www.deltadentalin.com.