Filling in the Need for Free Dental Care
Less than five percent of the people that we help in Portsmouth,
Virginia have dental insurance. This is why we partnered with the Peninsula
Christian Free Clinic and Sanctuary of Hope and held a second free dental
clinic last weekend. Our volunteer team of six dentists, dental assistants,
Navy corpsmen and support relieved the pain and discomfort of forty-four
patients. Without our help, these adults and teens couldn’t have afforded
the fillings and extractions received. They would have continued to live
in pain and discomfort.
Every time Michelle tried to eat, her teeth would move. Soft foods became
her only option. The young woman didn’t have dental insurance, but
last year she became so concerned that she visited a dentist. The prognosis
wasn’t good. She suffered from advanced periodontal disease and
should have had numerous teeth pulled. Michelle couldn’t afford
the hundreds of dollars it would cost, so she had to leave without the
help she desperately needed.
Almost a year later, Michelle was glad to sit in Dr. Cerniway’s
chair for a couple of hours last Saturday. This compassionate dentist
had already provided free dental care in our first mission in Portsmouth
earlier this year. When he was done, sixteen of Michelle’s teeth
had been extracted. Even with a mouth packed with gauze, she was glad
she had come. She was looking forward to getting partial dentures in the
near future as well as knowing the disease couldn’t spread any further.
A Family Affair
Earl, 15, hadn’t been to the dentist for two years. So it wasn’t
a surprise when Dr. Hooper said he needed two fillings. A few feet away
Dr. Kuenzli was working on Earl’s mother Evelyn. Across the room
his dad was having a tooth pulled by Dr. Clarkson. A part of the working
poor, this family can’t afford dental insurance. Evelyn has been
a certified nurses’ assistant for twenty-one years while her husband
is a brick layer. It’s still hard to make ends meet. She found out
about the dental mission when she came to Sanctuary of Hope to take part
in their food distribution program.
The Team
We are so grateful for the medical and non medical volunteers that participated
last weekend! This was Dr. Chris Hooper’s first time volunteering
with Operation Blessing. He has been practicing for fourteen years in
the Virginia Beach area. His friend Dr. Caravas recruited him and Dr.
Kuenzli for this mission. Dr. Hooper commented, “There was a need
so I did it.”
“I’ve always had a heart for the poor,” said Dr. Caravas,
a three time Operation Blessing volunteer.
“It would be a shameful thing not to help,” expressed Dr.
Kuenzli.
There are still many children and adults living within our borders that
can’t afford basic medical and dental care. You can help them by
giving towards our medical services program today.
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