by 
Editor’s note: When it comes to supporting the community and helping to ensure that patients have access to essential dental care, ADSO members are first in line. Efficiency in Group Practice recognizes those who make community giving a priority. This month: Great Expressions Dental Centers and Affordable Dentures & Implants®.
Affordable Dentures & Implants® recently announced it is partnering with Brighter Way Dental Institute of Phoenix, Ariz., to deliver free dental implants, oral surgery and prosthetic treatment to hundreds of U.S. military veterans and homeless citizens. The network of affiliated dental practices expects to contribute about $3.25 million in pro bono implant and prosthetic services in 2017 alone. About 400 volunteers – including affiliated practice owners, dental technicians and other auxiliary staff members – will travel from across the U.S. to Phoenix as part of the effort.
The pro bono program will take place at Phoenix-based Central Arizona Shelter Services. Brighter Way Dental Institute will facilitate six three-day sessions throughout the year. Formerly known as the CASS Dental Clinic for the Homeless, Brighter Way Dental Institute provides comprehensive dental care and a dental home to adults, homeless individuals and military veterans, many of whom do not receive dental benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr. Kris Volcheck, Brighter Way Dental Institute CEO and founder, and Dr. Justin Moody will oversee clinical care at each of the sessions.
“This program reflects our affiliates’ shared commitment to deliver tooth replacement care with dignity and respect to those who often have nowhere else to turn,” says Doug Brown, President and CEO of Affordable Care, the dental support organization affiliated with Affordable Dentures & Implants. “As a national dental support organization, we have a special opportunity to use our network size and resources to give back to underserved communities.”
Twelve Affordable Dentures & Implants affiliates participated in a successful pilot session in late 2016, delivering free care estimated at $440,000.
Affordable Dentures & Implants’ participation in the 2017 Brighter Way program will build upon a record year of volunteer service and charitable work. In 2016 alone, the dental provider network reached out in the following ways:
- Over 100 dentists, lab technicians and business support staff gave their time at more than 20 Mission of Mercy pro bono events across the U.S. Throughout the year, technicians produced more than 700 partial dentures and other appliances at Mission of Mercy events.
- Affordable Care renewed a significant annual contribution to America’s Dentists Care Foundation and to more than 20 state-level Mission of Mercy organizations.
In addition, over 200 dentists within the affiliated practice network have taken part in international implant volunteerism since 2014, including through a partner clinic in Guadalajara, Mexico, performing more than an estimated $5 million in implant surgery and related services in that time frame.
For more information about Affordable Dentures & Implants®, visit www.affordabledentures.com.
Giving back
Great Expressions Dental Centers makes it a point to provide more than great dental care. They become part of the fabric of the communities they serve by making donations to dental schools; participating in local partnerships, charities and events; visiting schools to educate students about brushing, flossing and diet; and educating people about the importance of their oral care.
Last year alone, GEDC was a sponsor of the Michigan Missions of Mercy – the state’s largest free dental clinic – and the Jarvis Landry Camp in Miami, Fla. GEDC set up its SmileCenter at the two-day camp, and team members handed out water bottles and Oral B Travel Kits to the children, as well as raffled off a signed, Jarvis Landry football both days. In addition, GEDC participated in:
- Backpack Donations. Over 600 backpacks stuffed with dental and school supplies were donated to school classrooms across the country. GEDC patients nominated the classrooms on its Facebook page, and GEDC presented the winning classrooms with backpacks and an oral hygiene presentation.
- NOVA Scholarship. Each year, GEDC awards a partial scholarship to a NOVA Dental student.
- Feeding Children Everywhere. GEDC team members have packaged over 100,000 meals annually.
- Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Together with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, GEDC helped raise awareness throughout the month of October.
- Dental Deputies. GEDC introduced its Dental Deputies to the Texas market, encouraging partnering schools to collect oral hygiene donations for victims of domestic violence.
- Michigan Dental Association. When GEDC learned that MDA was $8,000 short of its 2016 fundraising goal, it stepped up and donated the exact amount.
The DSO has continued its community support and service this year. To honor Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dedication to community, GEDC marked the national holiday by donating 5 percent of all revenue generated through patient services from all of its offices that day. (Through the years, GEDC has donated over $400,000.) In addition, it is participating in GEDC’s own Dental Deputies program throughout the year, where the DSO raises donations for women’s shelters via school presentations and oral care products given to the school and shelter. The program will expand to include women’s shelters in Atlanta, Ga., Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio, and Texas. Upcoming events scheduled in 2017 will include helping raise awareness during Oral Cancer Awareness Month, Missions of Mercy, Team Smiles and more.
For more information about community and charitable events sponsored by Great Expressions Dental Centers, visit the organization’s website at www.greatexpressions.com.
