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Community outreach programs make check-ups more available

Free dental exams, preventative tooth care, and more Several outreach programs in Polk County recently offered free dental exams and other tooth services to spread awareness about the need for dental health care. At the Haines City Dental Clinic, the Florida Department of Health in Polk County (FDOH-Polk) offered free comprehensive dental exams to children…
Helping make the healthier choice, the easier choice

About the Building a Healthier Polk initiative Building a Healthier Polk is a group of community partners brought together by Polk Vision who are working towards the goal of reducing the obesity rate in Polk County. Polk Vision is a broad, community-led partnership of organizations, businesses, government, and individuals. In 2012, Polk Vision’s Quality of…
The trouble with trigger finger

Local surgeon develops alternate solution for a tricky procedure There’s no getting around this fact: you need your hands. When one or more of your fingers or thumbs doesn’t function properly, it interferes with work and play. Correcting a condition such as trigger finger once meant a trip to a hospital or surgery center for…

The “Ripe” Time for Cataract Surgery

by William Corkins, O.D. Eye Specialists of Mid-Florida Whenever I tell a patient that he or she has cataracts they immediately ask if they need to have surgery. We start thinking about cataract surgery whenever the patient’s quality of life is affected. Common complaints include, “I can’t read road signs,” or “I can’t read the…
Recipe Spotlight: Lamb and Barley Soup & Easter Ham

by Trent Rowe, Food Editor This month’s Recipe Spotlight is focused on the Easter Holiday. Like I mentioned in the April edition of Central Florida Health News, holidays always have a large buildup, then it’s over in the blink-of-an-eye and all you’re left with is leftovers. These recipes are great ways to keep that Easter…
Risk Factors for Cavities that May Surprise You

Everyone knows that cavities are caused by too much sugar and poor oral care like neglecting daily brushing and flossing, but are those the only causes? There are actually many other behaviors that can put you at a greater risk of developing cavities. Just like brushing and flossing, the majority of additional risk factors for…