“I like your laugh,” a three-year-old girl told her Sunday School teacher.
Ramona never thought she’d hear those words. She desperately wanted to change her smile, but as a widow on a fixed income, finances were a barrier. A painful toothache led Ramona to Interfaith through her church. Crowding and decay has taken their toll on Ramona’s teeth, so all were extracted in preparation for dentures.
“Before Interfaith, I’d never been to a dentist I went back to,” Ramona explained. “But the staff and environment here were wonderful, so I took another appointment. And another.”
Today, Ramona loves the way she looks when she smiles. “I’m just so thankful, and I’d recommend Interfaith Dental Clinic to everyone.”
Masood, his wife, and four children lost everything in the May 2010 flood. At the same time, Masood suffered a broken crown, and his daughter and son experienced tooth decay. With six feet of water in his home and his children in pain, Masood turned to Interfaith Dental Clinic for help.
After months living with a relative, the Khan family is now finally back in their home and rebuilding their lives. Now they are able to smile, free from pain and the financial burden of dental care bills. “I could not imagine a charity would be so nice and well-equipped,” Masood shared. “I tell everyone about Interfaith and how they helped my family.”
Michelle works the third shift for a home shopping network, and her husband is a mortgage broker. The economic downturn hit them hard, and they could no longer afford their dental insurance co-pays. Michelle's teeth were in bad shape, and she suffered with constant pain. She avoided having her teeth cleaned because of the pain, but also dreaded having a dentist telling her everything that was wrong and how much it would cost. She knew her family couldn't afford it.
Michelle considered having all her teeth pulled and getting dentures. At least she would be out of pain and able to smile. Fortunately, an Interfaith volunteer told her family about the clinic and encouraged her to call.
The dentist at Interfaith Dental Clinic relieved Michelle's pain and worked with Michelle to develop a treatment plan that fit both her dental needs and her budget. Michelle said, "Interfaith allowed me to make the right choice for my family and still take care of myself. By having a payment plan and affordable treatment, I don't have to sacrifice my personal health any longer. It has been a blessing."
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.”
Cliff came to Interfaith Dental Clinic approximately one year ago with a severe toothache. Cliff discovered only a few years earlier that he had cancer. The three rounds of chemotherapy that he received as part of his treatment caused his mouth to dry out severely, resulting in a rapid decline in his oral health. “When I was 18, they were perfect, then for the next eight years they just steadily declined. The chemo didn’t help.” states Cliff.
After his emergency treatment, Cliff entered our Comprehensive Care Program. Cliff has had extractions, crowns, root canals, fillings and partials at the clinic. Now, as he is about to graduate the program, he reflects, “I just wanted to get out of pain. Now, I am so glad I went through with everything! This is much better than anywhere I have ever been.”
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