by Team of Aspen Dental clinicians provides free dental care on Haiti humanitarian mission
A team of nine Aspen Dental clinicians recently provided free dental care to almost 400 patients during a week-long humanitarian mission to Haiti, a country still recovering five years after the catastrophic earthquake that occurred on January 12, 2010. This is the second year Aspen Dental Management Inc. sponsored a dental humanitarian mission in Haiti. The team worked with Restoration Ministries – a community-based assistance group in Haiti. For some volunteers, the connection was deeply personal. “It was very fulfilling for me because I was able to provide the care and talk to people in Creole and explain to them how to take better care of their mouth,” recalled dental assistant Katheline Joseph, a native of Haiti who resides in Fairfield, CT. One of her patients was an 11 year old girl who walked for hours just to get treatment because her front teeth were filled with cavities. She pleaded to have the teeth restored and not pulled, but they were too decayed. Joseph told the girl she could have dentures made to bring back her smile, but she needed her mother’s consent. The next morning, the little girl and her mother were the first in line – the procedure was a success.
Great Expressions raises $52,000 on MLK, Jr Day to Donate to Local Organizations
To honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as well as his message, Great Expressions Dental Centers (GEDC) is donating $52,000 to local charities, schools and other organizations in Michigan, Florida, Georgia and New York, the organization announced. Patients helped support the annual fundraiser, now in its fifth year, by coming into a GEDC office for hygiene treatments, orthodontics, pediatrics and more on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The company is donating five percent of the daily revenue generated through patient services from all offices on MLK Day to chosen organizations. “Year after year we’ve been able to increase our donations to organizations critical to the success and growth of the communities we are proud to serve,” said Richard Beckman, CEO of Great Expressions Dental Centers. “Dr. King often said ‘Life’s more persistent and urgent question is: what are you doing for others?’ By hosting this annual fundraiser we’re able to express our support of his vision.”
AAPD names Robin Wright PhD to new post
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) (Chicago, IL) named Robin Wright PhD as assistant director of the AAPD Pediatric Oral Health Research & Policy Center. Wright will oversee research, analyze issues affecting children’s health, author articles and technical briefs, and support advocacy efforts at both national and state levels. As president of Wright Communications (Evanston, IL) since 1986, Wright has provided seminars to state dental associations on communications and related practice management and public policy issues. She has written and/or produced over 60 publications and is the author of the 1997 book, “Tough Questions, Great Answers: Responding to Patient Questions About Today’s Dentistry.”
