Health Department's Mobile Dental Unit Serves Community

From the Will County Health Department:

During a recent Thursday morning stop at the Frankfort Terrace Nursing Home, Dr. Francis Tan and dental assistant Lendita Istogu from the Will County Community Health Center Mobile Dental Unit were out and about offering top dental care that can be found in any office.

Tan, a native of the Philippines with both Bio-Engineering and Dental degrees from U of I-Chicago, says he very much enjoys seeing patients that he may not see during his private practice work due to their inability to travel. “We are able to offer cleanings, fillings, extractions, and general checkups to get patients on the right path.”

Tan especially enjoys the Mobile Dental Unit’s work when it stops by schools and serves children. Unlike his native Philippines, the United States has various dental requirements, such as exams that must be done prior to 2nd and 6th grade. Tan says he has often treated students who have come from other countries, and their families may not understand the importance of dental health.

“Sometimes a child will have very bad baby teeth, and the parents might think, ‘that’s okay, he won’t have them forever.’ But some baby teeth can last until age 12. And you do not want rotten teeth in your mouth for that long.” Tan says he will not hesitate to contact parents of children he has seen and let them know how important it is to monitor their children’s daily teeth brushing habits.

Tan also credits Istugo, his dental assistant and the driver of the Mobile Dental Unit. A native of Kosovo, she also appreciates the importance placed upon dental health in the United States.

“Lendita does the work of more than one person to keep this mobile unit going,” Tan freely admitted. “And I’m probably not being generous enough.”

Istogu takes pride in that. “I don’t care how much of a load it is,” she explained. “I just want this to work. It took a lot of effort for our unit to be certified to serve schools. And I really think what we do for children is so important.”

Frankfort Terrace Nursing Home administrator Judie Majchrowicz says what the Mobile Dental Unit does for her tenants is a major blessing. “They do such a vital service for our facility,” said Majchrowicz. “We are so grateful and so thankful, and they are so professional. Our residents just have to walk right outside and into mobile dental unit, where they have such a positive experience.”

One thing that Community Health Center Dental Department Dental Program Manager Kimberly Nay wanted to make clear is that the mobile dental unit will work with patients and families with flexible sliding fees based upon a family’s income and other factors. Nay explained that the Affordable Care Act “changed some things, in that we are not able to simply offer the services for free. Some people hear that and get worried. But they shouldn’t be. We do not want anyone to go without proper dental care. We will work with them to make it happen.”

Dr. Tan agreed. “Many of the patients at Frankfort Terrace, for example, have their medical cards, which makes it easier for them.”

The Will County Community Health Center Mobile Dental Unit is available to make stops on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Mondays and Fridays, it serves as a medical mobile unit, handling items such as general checkups and lab work. Wherever the unit happens to be parked, it is usually available to the public on a first come, first served basis. For more information, call 815-774-7300. The Mobile Dental Unit is partially funded by generous funding from the United Way of Will County, in order to provide dental services to the residents of local shelters.

Dr. Francis Tan checks records while Lendita Istogu tends to Frankfort Terrace patient Shirley Gold | image via Will County Health Department