Clinic to offer free dental work
'It's a way for us to give back to the community,' says Dr. Hassan Adam
Jessica Davey-Quantick
Northern News Services
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Adam Dental Clinic is giving back with a smile - literally.
On Sunday, the clinic will be open, but won't be accepting payment.
From 7:30 a.m. until 3 p.m., the clinic is offering free dental care to those who need it.
"It's a way for us to give back to the community," said Dr. Hassan Adam, owner of the clinic.
Using similar programs like Smiles from the Heart in Campbell River, B.C. as a guide, office manager Alicia Price helped organize the program in Yellowknife. She said the day will be first-come, first-serve.
"So ideally, people will come nice and early and we can sort of get an order going," said Price.
All eight dentists, as well as dental hygienists, receptionists and dental assistants are volunteering their time, offering basic dental services such as cleanings, fillings and extractions.
"I'm really proud of my staff because just about everybody in our staff has committed to coming and helping on that day," said Adam, adding some staff from the Frame Lake office are also coming down to help.
"Everybody is excited and wants to help and do the right thing."
This isn't the first time the dentists at the clinic have offered their services for free.
Adam said that over his 37 years in Yellowknife, when people need dental work but can't afford it, they've always helped out on an ad hoc basis.
"We've never done it as a program," he said.
"There is always a section (of people) who is very proud to ask. They always feel they'll go without dental treatment for years, and their teeth will be in such a mess, and some of them will lose their teeth, but they didn't want to ask for any help."
Both he and Price are hoping that having the daylong program will mean those people get the help they need.
"They're in need but think they're not in need enough, you know?" said Price.
Adam said many people will ignore their teeth, especially single parents, who will go without so their children can see a dentist. Or, patients will need multiple procedures but only be able to afford one.
"It's a very big ethical issue we have," said Adam.
"Because you're trained to do the best for your clients, and when they come in and you know that they need so much, and how do you prioritize and say, 'OK we'll do this but not this?'"
Adam said if there is interest, this could become a regular event.
The event will focus on people who have neglected their teeth, rather than cosmetic procedures like veneers, especially for people who don't have insurance that covers dental care.
"Having the program allows us to really prioritize our time ... to help those who desperately need dentistry," said Adam.
Additionally, Adam said the clinic is considering bringing up specialists from other parts of the country in the future to also volunteer their time for things like oral surgery.
"It's Adam Dental Clinic that's doing it, but I think it's the staff that are really doing it," said Adam.
"We're just basically facilitating it, but it is the people that are doing it."
