Free root canals

The American Association of Endodontists provided root canal treatment to 55 underserved patients during the association’s Access to Care Project, held in conjunction with its recent annual session in San Antonio, Texas.

To read more about the AAE, go to AAE.

The AAE volunteers provided more than $80,000 worth of free endodontic treatment to those who could not otherwise have afforded it.

“To do this many root canals in one day is phenomenal and it means so much to us,” said David Phipps, executive director of the San Antonio Christian Dental Clinic, which hosted the Access to Care Project. “The AAE’s project is not only saving teeth, it is cutting six months from our waiting list.”

The SACDC provides charitable dental care to indigent persons in keeping with Christian ministry. In 2010, the clinic recorded nearly 38,000 patient visits and provided services and volunteer hours valued at $3.2 million. SACDC features 16 operatories and provides a full range of dental services.

“Raising awareness of the importance of oral health care and improving access to that care are priorities of the entire dental community and the AAE is honored to help support the work of the SACDC,” said Dr. Clara M. Spatafore, AAE immediate past president. “The patients we treated may have had extractions if we weren’t able to help, but the AAE’s Access to Care Project will help them keep their natural teeth for a lifetime.”

More than 100 volunteers participated in Access to Care, including 38 endodontists and residents from the University of Texas at San Antonio, University of Texas at Houston and Baylor College of Dentistry. The event also received support and equipment donations from Henry Schein Dental/Henry Schein Cares.

“I was a little bit worried when I came in,” said patient Chandra Bhujel. But after her root canal procedure she was relieved. “Now I don’t have any pain.”

Another root canal patient, Charlotte Byrd, was pleased with her experience.

“I think the endodontist was very caring and concerned about my pain. I think he did not want me to feel any pain, and I felt very comfortable in his care.”

Nationwide, more than 80% of AAE members are engaged in charitable services within their communities year-round. A recent AAE member survey shows that endodontists provide an average of 10 free root canals each year.

For more information, go to www.aae.org.

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