National Volunteering Week is in May, but there are opportunities to give back year-round! If your practice would like to make a difference, consider one of the ADA Dental Health Foundation programs.
Dental Rescue Days
Have you ever thought about hosting a Dental Rescue Day? Dental Rescue Days enable the dental team to give back in their own practice. Practices can commit either a half-day or full-day to treating pro bono patients. Dental Rescue Days are organised with the support of the ADA Dental Health Foundation state coordinator (in WA, this is Andrea Paterson). Andrea will liaise with support workers from referred organisations to find the patients for these Dental Rescue Days and coordinate the appointment book for the day.
Adopt a Patient
The Adopt a Patient program will match a dentist with a patient who requires a full course of treatment. The dentist then sees this patient over a number of appointments, until the course of treatment is completed.Sometimes, once a dental practice has hosted a Dental Rescue Day, they will decide to Adopt a Patient from the Dental Rescue Day they hosted.
Rebuilding Smiles
The Rebuilding Smiles program offers probono treatment to patients who have been affected by domestic and/or family violence. Rebuilding Smiles patients may require treatment for trauma, or treatment for ongoing oral health conditions.
Benefits for the whole practice team
Taking part in an ADA Dental Health Foundation program is a rewarding experience for the entire dental team – fostering teamwork and collegiality. Simply put – giving back feels good!
For more information
For more information about any of the ADA Dental Health Foundation programs, please contact WA state coordinator Andrea Paterson by emailing: [email protected]
Did you know?
Perth’s own Oceanic Dental has been a sponsor of the ADA Dental Health Foundation since 2018. The Oceanic team provides pro bono lab services for numerous patients being treated through ADA Dental Health Foundation programs.
A practice’s experience
Leederville Dental recently hosted a Dental Rescue Day and the practice team found it to be a great experienced.
“Last year we participated in a volunteer day at OHCWA and it was a positive experience for all involved,” says Dr Richard Kozlowski. “We had to wait an entire year to participate again at the same location, so instead, decided to host ourselves which enabled us to be involved much earlier.”
The practice opened up two surgeries for the morning and were fully booked with a total of eight patients. “Seven of the patients attended and received as much time and treatment as we could manage on the day,” he says. “It was interesting speaking with our co-ordinator, Andrea Paterson, about the circumstances of many of the patients and the difficulties that they have attending dental appointments. The eight patients that we had booked actually came from seven different organisations, which represents in itself a significant logistic challenge.”
Richard says as a practice owner, he was keen to engage any interested and available staff as a team building exercise. “It’s a great reminder of what a privileged situation we exist in, and the feel-good factor is ample reward for the effort,” he says. “I recommend any dental practice to be involved in this kind of activity.”
