Johnnie's Story

When Interfaith Dental clinic patient Johnnie Hays, age 87, entered our Comprehensive Care program, he had not received regular dental care since his years in the Army during World War II.  He had been fortunate enough not to experience any major pain issues until last year when a tooth began to really bother him.  He told his daughter, Tianna, of his discomfort and she asked to take a look in his mouth.  Knowing her parents live on a small fixed income, she immediately began to research to find someone who could affordably help her father with his multiple dental needs.  A friend told her about our clinic and her father began treatment soon after.   

The Interfaith Dental Clinic provides service to elderly patients every day that have gone years, sometimes a lifetime, without proper dental care.  Most are living on a Social Security income and can barely make ends meet.  Some have even resulted to pulling their aching teeth themselves.        

Lack of dental care for seniors often results in poor nutrition and an acute impact on quality of life, affecting chewing, eating, speaking and social interactions.  In no segment of society are these domains of health more critical than in the elderly, for it is in this population that deficits in quality of life are most devastating.

Johnnie shared these thoughts with us about his experience with Interfaith, “I would never want to go anywhere else!  Everybody knows me here.  They really care about me and always prepare me for what is to come.  They let me  pay for my denture in two installments, which allowed me to have my new teeth. There is no better place than here. I recommend them 100%!  Now it’s my wife's turn.”