Oral Health

SeaMar Community Dental Clinic Now Open !
31775 S. R. 20, Suite A-3, Oak Harbor

Alex Narvaez, DDS, Dental Director for SeaMar, announces the opening of the SeaMar Community Dental Clinic in Oak Harbor at 31775 State Route 20, Suite
A-3. This clinic serves patients with dental insurance either through Medicaid or private insurance, and also has a sliding fee and payment plan for individuals without insurance. Patients are seen by appointment from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. Appointments can be made at (360) 679-9216.

The Whidbey Island Dental Health Coalition meets the fourth Tuesday every other month from 7:00-8:00 pm in room 116 of the County Administration Building (Jan 24, March 28, May 23, July 25, Sept 26, and Nov 28). We would like to see dental health viewed as a priority and a positive experience by sponsoring outreach services, education programs, and improved access to care. Come join us; you do not need to be a dental professional to make a difference! For more information, contact Caroline at (360) 678-7938).

Vision of the Whidbey Island Dental Health Coalition:

"..that dental health will be viewed as a priority and a positive experience, readily available to everyone"

Goal of the Coalition. . . to accomplish our vision by:

outreach services

education programs

improved access to care

Simple Steps to Better Dental Health

Citizens' Watch For Oral Health

“You’re not healthy without good oral health.” -- Former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop

Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease of childhood; it is five times more frequent than asthma, for example. Twenty million children - 25% of persons under age 19 - suffer 80% of all tooth decay. For an estimated 4-5 million of these children, tooth decay interferes with routine activities.

SMILE SURVEY 2005, rev-3

Dentists and Staff Make ABCD Work! . . .

The 9 ABCD Dentists of Island County began seeing children December 1, 2001. We are pleased to report that Island Thrift has joined the Mount Baker Dental Society and the Washington Dental Service Foundation in providing grants for continuing this program. ABCD increases access to preventative and restorative dental care for Medicaid eligible children from birth to six years old, with emphasis on enrollment by age one. There are presently 1,476 children enrolled in the program.

The ABCD Program in Island County allows children up to their 6th birthday who are on Medical Coupons/Basic Health to have 2 dental exams, 2 dental health education sessions, 3 fluoride varnishes, assistance with dental follow-up, and restorative care as needed.

ABCD is Portable*
When a family moves out of Island County their ABCD enrollment card qualifies them to receive services in other ABCD counties. If you know of a pending move, please give them the appropriate telephone number.

Please have your patients call:
                          Camano Island — 360-387-0184
                          North Whidbey — 360-678-7938
                          South Whidbey – 360-221-8487

*Children who are in the ABCD program in Island County can easily transfer to another ABCD provider in Washington. Counties with ABCD programs include: Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Franklin, Garfield, King, Lewis, Mason, Okanogan, Skagit, Snohomish, Spokane, Thurston, Whatcom, Whitman, and Yakima.

To refer Medicaid eligible children, or for more information on ABCD, contact public health nurse Caroline Lokkins at 321-5111 x7938 from S. Whidbey;
                                                          678-7938 from N. Whidbey;
                                                               FAX: (360) 221-8480
                                   and Janet McWatt at: 387-0184 on Camano Island.

Cost Effectiveness of Preventive Dental Services