Bringing smiles to those in need
Since September 2011, the聽University鈥檚 Community聽Outreach Dental Program聽has been providing free聽dental care for some of Adelaide鈥檚 most vulnerable聽and marginalised people.
It has been identified that over a third聽of Australians do not visit the dentist聽because it鈥檚 too expensive or too hard.聽For many people who live on the streets聽(over 7,500 people in South Australia聽alone) or don鈥檛 have much money, a visit聽to the dentist is the last thing on their聽minds. However, poor oral hygiene can聽lead to many further health problems and聽often also leads to low self-esteem.
The clinic, based in the Common Ground聽facility in Light Square is making a huge聽impact on the lives of South Australia鈥檚聽homeless, allowing people like Sue聽Watson access to free oral health聽facilities often for the very first time.
Sue Watson first visited the dental clinic聽in early 2014. She had become homeless聽after escaping from domestic violence聽and had recently had a bad experience聽after a trip to the dentist left her with no聽teeth and no self-confidence.
鈥淚 was shattered and I didn鈥檛 want to talk聽to people鈥 Sue said.
But after being referred to the聽Community Outreach Dental Practice聽things began to improve.聽
鈥淭hey really did save my life. I was聽promised new teeth by Christmas and by George I got them!鈥
Sue regained her self-confidence and聽was able to start part-time work before going back to University to study for her聽dream job in horticulture.
The Community Outreach Dental Program聽doesn鈥檛 just assist those in need however,聽it provides an opportunity for dental and聽oral health students to work with volunteer聽dentists, hygienists and therapists and聽gives them the ability to provide timely聽and appropriate dental care to vulnerable聽people like Sue, and the chance to make a聽difference to someone鈥檚 life.
With the program relying solely on聽volunteer dentists giving their time free of charge to run the clinic, donations are of聽huge importance, says program director聽Margie Steffens.
鈥淓very dollar given enables us to minimise聽the inequities in access to appropriate聽dental care 鈥 our donors, volunteers聽and students form part of a network of聽generous like-minded individuals caring聽for our community,鈥 she says.
Since the inception of the program,聽donations have provided over 750 people with free dental care, assisting聽them to keep other health problems at bay and ensuring that those who聽cannot afford basic dental care are not disadvantaged.
This program is driven by the聽, who are聽committed聽to ensuring that thinkers and聽professionals of the future have a聽strong sense of social justice and a聽dedication to improving the quality聽of life of marginalised and vulnerable聽people in the community.
You can to support the Community Outreach Dental Program.