Dental Clinic Completes 2nd Year

The Share & Care Clinic completed its second year of operations in 2007. Jointly sponsored by the Share A Smile Foundation and Food & Care Coalition, the clinic serves homeless and other at risk populations. Clients bank community service hours in lieu of cash payment for services received. Clients served in the clinic were offered educational services while receiving such treatments as extractions, root canals, dentures and in some cases, full mouth rehabilitation.

Nearly $90,000 in valued services was distributed to 199 clients in 2007. Dentists and assistants donated 1,000 hours of service while clients provided 1,200 hours in services for treatments received. Updates from dental clients throughout the year indicated a strong improvement in personal self-esteem and improved job marketability.

The clinic benefits from significant community partnerships. Over 40 dentists in the community have either donated equipment for clinic use or been a part of the regular “dental day” rotation of volunteer dentists. Students from Utah Valley University offer client education and dental hygiene appointments as part of a service learning partnership with the University. In addition, students from Brigham Young University’s Pre-Dental School offer support staff on dental days and dental education.