I graduated from dental school in 1976. In 1977 I began volunteering at the Ben Massell Dental Clinic, providing free treatment to people in our community who otherwise couldn't afford it. I knew this was for me as soon as I began. Some people who came to the clinic had been in pain for months, unable to get treatments they badly needed. My job was to relieve their pain and give them their smiles and confidence back. What's not to love about that?
The Ben Massell clinic provides fillings, treats gum issues, does extractions, root canals, dentures, and partial dentures. I recently had a patient come in who was in pain from a poorly done dental bridge that had also lost the porcelain covering her front teeth. She was so embarrassed by the way it looked, she covered her mouth with her hand the entire time she was talking. I was able to relieve her pain and repair the damage to her bridge. When I finished, she exclaimed, "I can't believe you could do that!" Her hand did not go back up and a big smile replaced it. Her gratitude and that of the other patients we help is what keeps me and the other dentist volunteers coming back.
Over the years, my role at Ben Massell has evolved. I now supervise dental students who rotate through the clinic on the way to their degrees. It's a win-win formula: Dental students get training and expert supervision on procedures they may not have been able to do before, and patients get pro bono top-notch dental care. When my students graduate, I always tell them that they need to continue their volunteer work throughout their career. Most of us get this job to help people feel comfortable and help them live well. Making sure this culture of care continues is not only important to those in need, but to our profession because it makes us all better.
The Ben Massell clinic provides fillings, treats gum issues, does extractions, root canals, dentures, and partial dentures. I recently had a patient come in who was in pain from a poorly done dental bridge that had also lost the porcelain covering her front teeth. She was so embarrassed by the way it looked, she covered her mouth with her hand the entire time she was talking. I was able to relieve her pain and repair the damage to her bridge. When I finished, she exclaimed, "I can't believe you could do that!" Her hand did not go back up and a big smile replaced it. Her gratitude and that of the other patients we help is what keeps me and the other dentist volunteers coming back.
Over the years, my role at Ben Massell has evolved. I now supervise dental students who rotate through the clinic on the way to their degrees. It's a win-win formula: Dental students get training and expert supervision on procedures they may not have been able to do before, and patients get pro bono top-notch dental care. When my students graduate, I always tell them that they need to continue their volunteer work throughout their career. Most of us get this job to help people feel comfortable and help them live well. Making sure this culture of care continues is not only important to those in need, but to our profession because it makes us all better.