Project Description
Dr. Cecilia Escarra
(PRASAD Children’s Dental Health Program)
Sullivan 180 Presents…
TAKE FIVE!
February 09, 2021
For this week’s Take Five! we spoke with Dr. Cecilia Escarra of PRASAD, which is a Dental Health Program that brings dental services to children ages 6 months to 18 years of age who are not receiving dental services. February is #childredentalhealthmonth and Dr. Escarra reminds us of how important Dental Health is for the health of both children and adults.
Sullivan 180 Presents…
TAKE FIVE!
February 09, 2021
For this week’s Take Five! we spoke with Dr. Cecilia Escarra of PRASAD, which is a Dental Health Program that brings dental services to children ages 6 months to 18 years of age who are not receiving dental services. February is #childredentalhealthmonth and Dr. Escarra reminds us of how important Dental Health is for the health of both children and adults.
Dr. Cecilia Escarra
(PRASAD Children’s Dental Health Program)
Transcript of Interview with Dr. Cecilia Escarra
February 09, 2021
Amanda Langseder:
Hi, I’m Amanda from Sullivan 180, and I’m very excited to bring today’s Take Five! Video series to you. Dr. Cecilia Escarra is originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina and holds a master’s degree in health administration. She became an orthodontist and also has expertise in medical auditing. Dr. Escarra arrived at PRASAD in 2002 to work as administrator of the PRASAD Children’s Dental Health Program in New York state. In 2012, she was appointed executive director of the PRASAD Project and under her leadership, the PRASAD Children’s Dental Health Program has received numerous awards from the state and national entities. Prasad’s work has been recognized on the national and the international level through publications and Dr. Escarra, we are extremely happy to have you today on a Take Five for children’s dental health month. First question, I’m going to ask you- how have things changed for PRASAD since the start of the pandemic and what challenges have you faced?
Dr. Escarra:
The pandemic has affected. It’s affecting everybody everywhere, including our dental program. So we went through different phases. The first one was in March when we had the lockdown and all the dental offices, most dental offices and our program was closed. However, we maintain a hotline that was really useful, Amanda, because parents had children with pain, they didn’t know who to call. They were not answering the phone. So what the staff was helping them, referring them, and sometimes even to the hospital, you know, because some cases they have infections, so they need to get care and they wouldn’t use word in July. We follow the CDC and ADA strict infection control guidance, and we opened our dental clinic in Ferndale, New York. You know, we are very close toSullivan 180 headquarters. And since then we have been seeing patients in a very safe environment for our staff and patients. And we follow all the protocols that probably you can go through when you go to your doctor, right? We ask the questions, but what you wait in the car, we take your temperature. And we take all the time to clean between patients. And of course there is new equipment. Probably you have seen, you know, all the coverage for the dentist and the patients. The difference from previous year, the main difference, so far we are not going to the school this year because the New York state Department of Health does not allow programs to operate at the schools and make sense, right? Because we know how challenging is there the schedule, right? With the schools and new infections. So that’s why we still are providing services in Ferndale and promoting the service throughout the school. So that’s the only way we have enough effect in, and also financially, because we can see less patients, everybody, right? Because you need more time, but also less revenues. And we are a non-profit. So that’s why it’s challenging. But you know, we are to continue serving the children in Sullivan County.
Amanda Langseder:
I’m so glad that you are. We all know how important it is. And you know, I’ve been amazed to see the difference in my own dentist, how things have changed and why is it so important that we all continue to go to the dentist and not put off our dental care during this pandemic?
Dr. Escarra:
Yeah, it’s really crucial because you don’t have good oral health. You don’t have health. You know, that teeth are part of your body and research shows, many diseases are linked to, oral health like heart diseases and sometimes it’s silent. And then you have great consequences in your health. You know, that’s for the point of view of health and a comment. I know focus at children, but also for adults. I have read some research that dentist found out that adults have more issues with stress, so their teeth are broken. You know, so many things that you don’t realize that the dentist can detect, early detection can save you, you know,
Amanda Langseder:
How can parents make an appointment, get in touch with PRASAD and make sure that their children’s dental health, most importantly, right now it’s being taken care of.
Dr. Escarra:
Yeah. So February is really important month for our mission because it’s the opportunity to promote even more oral health. And we need to help families to support the children, to develop good oral health habits, right? Because then it extends your rest of your life. You have bad teeth when you are a child, then you have many problems when you’re an adult. And plus we see, you know, dental cavities affect children in so many ways. They cannot always smile. They cannot eat, they cannot learn. They cannot play. And their self-esteem. So when they are adults, you can not smile. Smiling is so important by Amanda because when you smile, you show confidence and you connect inside your smile. You smile back to me, right? So that’s why it’s not just for the child, it’s for the whole life. It’s the opportunity to develop good oral health habits. And for PRASAD, we used to provide dental education and the school right now is not possible, but we are exploring virtual education by recording a video and offering to the schools. We are working on this this month and it was offering toothbrushes to the schools in February that they can distribute to the children and, hopefully to [Cabo?]. So press releases are more media attention. And to make an appointment with PRASAD, you can call 434- 0367, extension 1216, and to make an appointment, we have appointments available. We also take emergencies.
Amanda Langseder:
I love what you said about children’s smiles. We are going to take off these masks someday, and we want to make sure that these smiles are ready for that day. And that they’re well taken of, and PRASAD certainly helps the County and helps the children do that. Anything else that you’d like to share
Dr. Escarra:
To say we are here? We are committed to serve our community and we’ll look forward to continue partnering with Sulivan 180 really has been a pleasure to help families, you know, with food during the holidays. And maybe many other exciting initiatives that we could do.
Amanda Langseder:
Sounds great. You know, we are always a consummate partner for PRASAD so Happy Children’s Dental Health month. And thank you so much for being with us today, Dr. Escarra.
Dr. Escarra:
Happy Children’s Dental Health month. Amanda. Thank you.
Transcript of Interview with Dr. Cecilia Escarra
February 09, 2021
Amanda Langseder:
Hi, I’m Amanda from Sullivan 180, and I’m very excited to bring today’s Take Five! Video series to you. Dr. Cecilia Escarra is originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina and holds a master’s degree in health administration. She became an orthodontist and also has expertise in medical auditing. Dr. Escarra arrived at PRASAD in 2002 to work as administrator of the PRASAD Children’s Dental Health Program in New York state. In 2012, she was appointed executive director of the PRASAD Project and under her leadership, the PRASAD Children’s Dental Health Program has received numerous awards from the state and national entities. Prasad’s work has been recognized on the national and the international level through publications and Dr. Escarra, we are extremely happy to have you today on a Take Five for children’s dental health month. First question, I’m going to ask you- how have things changed for PRASAD since the start of the pandemic and what challenges have you faced?
Dr. Escarra:
The pandemic has affected. It’s affecting everybody everywhere, including our dental program. So we went through different phases. The first one was in March when we had the lockdown and all the dental offices, most dental offices and our program was closed. However, we maintain a hotline that was really useful, Amanda, because parents had children with pain, they didn’t know who to call. They were not answering the phone. So what the staff was helping them, referring them, and sometimes even to the hospital, you know, because some cases they have infections, so they need to get care and they wouldn’t use word in July. We follow the CDC and ADA strict infection control guidance, and we opened our dental clinic in Ferndale, New York. You know, we are very close toSullivan 180 headquarters. And since then we have been seeing patients in a very safe environment for our staff and patients. And we follow all the protocols that probably you can go through when you go to your doctor, right? We ask the questions, but what you wait in the car, we take your temperature. And we take all the time to clean between patients. And of course there is new equipment. Probably you have seen, you know, all the coverage for the dentist and the patients. The difference from previous year, the main difference, so far we are not going to the school this year because the New York state Department of Health does not allow programs to operate at the schools and make sense, right? Because we know how challenging is there the schedule, right? With the schools and new infections. So that’s why we still are providing services in Ferndale and promoting the service throughout the school. So that’s the only way we have enough effect in, and also financially, because we can see less patients, everybody, right? Because you need more time, but also less revenues. And we are a non-profit. So that’s why it’s challenging. But you know, we are to continue serving the children in Sullivan County.
Amanda Langseder:
I’m so glad that you are. We all know how important it is. And you know, I’ve been amazed to see the difference in my own dentist, how things have changed and why is it so important that we all continue to go to the dentist and not put off our dental care during this pandemic?
Dr. Escarra:
Yeah, it’s really crucial because you don’t have good oral health. You don’t have health. You know, that teeth are part of your body and research shows, many diseases are linked to, oral health like heart diseases and sometimes it’s silent. And then you have great consequences in your health. You know, that’s for the point of view of health and a comment. I know focus at children, but also for adults. I have read some research that dentist found out that adults have more issues with stress, so their teeth are broken. You know, so many things that you don’t realize that the dentist can detect, early detection can save you, you know,
Amanda Langseder:
How can parents make an appointment, get in touch with PRASAD and make sure that their children’s dental health, most importantly, right now it’s being taken care of.
Dr. Escarra:
Yeah. So February is really important month for our mission because it’s the opportunity to promote even more oral health. And we need to help families to support the children, to develop good oral health habits, right? Because then it extends your rest of your life. You have bad teeth when you are a child, then you have many problems when you’re an adult. And plus we see, you know, dental cavities affect children in so many ways. They cannot always smile. They cannot eat, they cannot learn. They cannot play. And their self-esteem. So when they are adults, you can not smile. Smiling is so important by Amanda because when you smile, you show confidence and you connect inside your smile. You smile back to me, right? So that’s why it’s not just for the child, it’s for the whole life. It’s the opportunity to develop good oral health habits. And for PRASAD, we used to provide dental education and the school right now is not possible, but we are exploring virtual education by recording a video and offering to the schools. We are working on this this month and it was offering toothbrushes to the schools in February that they can distribute to the children and, hopefully to [Cabo?]. So press releases are more media attention. And to make an appointment with PRASAD, you can call 434- 0367, extension 1216, and to make an appointment, we have appointments available. We also take emergencies.
Amanda Langseder:
I love what you said about children’s smiles. We are going to take off these masks someday, and we want to make sure that these smiles are ready for that day. And that they’re well taken of, and PRASAD certainly helps the County and helps the children do that. Anything else that you’d like to share
Dr. Escarra:
To say we are here? We are committed to serve our community and we’ll look forward to continue partnering with Sulivan 180 really has been a pleasure to help families, you know, with food during the holidays. And maybe many other exciting initiatives that we could do.
Amanda Langseder:
Sounds great. You know, we are always a consummate partner for PRASAD so Happy Children’s Dental Health month. And thank you so much for being with us today, Dr. Escarra.
Dr. Escarra:
Happy Children’s Dental Health month. Amanda. Thank you.
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