Every year for the past eight years, Dr. Jesse Chai has opened the doors of Bradford Family Dentistry, and with the help of a small army of staff and volunteers, to provide a day of basic dental services free of charge.
Dentistry from the Heart is provided on a first-come, first-served basis, and people come from around Bradford West Gwillimbury and Simcoe County to be first in line.
At this year’s event, the first patient staked out his place by the doors at 2 a.m.
By the time the offices opened at 8 a.m., the lineup stretched the length of the building at 76 Holland St. W.
“We are so blessed,” said one mom, who brought her three children for free dental cleanings normally out of reach since the family lost its dental benefits.
Healthy Smiles Ontario does provide free dental services for children under the age of 17 if the family qualifies as a low-income household.
But families that do not meet the threshold are on their own, and many scramble to cover the costs. Without an insurance plan, said one woman, “your teeth get worse and worse.”
“Dental health is so important to your overall health,” Chai said. “When you have bacteria that is left unchecked in your mouth, this becomes a problem. Gum disease and tooth decay, untreated, can cause serious health problems.“
Periodontal disease, for example, has been linked to heart attack and stroke, diabetes, kidney and liver issues, Alzheimer’s disease and certain cancers, he said.
“Tooth decay obviously can progress as well, and once it reaches the nerve it will become infected, and you will likely experience severe tooth pain,” said Chai.
Left untreated, infection can spread into surrounding tissues, which can lead to life-threatening problems, he added.
“I got into dentistry to help people, and if you asked my team members, they got into the dental field as well to help people. It is our passion,” Chai said, acknowledging the high cost of dental training, equipment and supplies impacts the cost of dental services.
“We know that not every person is in a position to afford the dental care they need for their oral health. That’s where Dentistry from the Heart comes in.”
Dentistry from the Heart was launched in 2010 in New Port Richey, Fla., by a dentist who wanted to give back to his community and help those struggling with the cost of dental care. It has since become an international movement.
This year, Chai and his team saw approximately 80 patients by the time the doors closed at 6 p.m. on May 25, and they had provided more than $22,700 of free services.
“It’s not an easy day to co-ordinate,” he said, thanking his staff, family and volunteers for their efforts, Tammy Murphy and AcmeDent for donating dental supplies, Keegan Dunn and Henry Schein for providing an extra sterilizer, and all who supported the annual effort.
“My team and I love the Bradford community, we love our patients, and hosting Dentistry from the Heart the last eight years is just one of the ways we show how much we appreciate the community and those who come to us for their dental care.”
