Dr. Peter Ciampi recently returned to his New Jersey cosmetic dentistry practice after having spent time offering his services to an underprivileged community in Knoxville with the Remote Area Medical (RAM) Volunteer Corps organization. Dr. Ciampi says he was grateful for the opportunity to help people from a different community achieve a healthy, pain-free mouth.Founded in 1985, RAM is a nonprofit, volunteer organization designed to provide free health care, dental care, eye care, veterinary services, and other assistance to people across the globe. As a New Jersey dentist, Dr. Ciampi says his trip to Tennessee was an incredible experience and one that continues to drive his pursuit of the highest quality results in dental care. During his recent visit to Knoxville, Dr. Ciampi and the other 317 volunteer medical professionals provided treatment to over 1,000 patients during two days. Services included eye exams, mammograms, general medicine exams, dental extractions, fillings, and cleanings. Dr. Ciampi and the team of dentists performed over 1,600 extractions, 300 fillings, and 144 cleanings. Despite working long hours, he says the trip was a rewarding opportunity and he is excited to return to his dental practice rejuvenated and full of purpose.Having participated in the medical and dental volunteer trips with RAM in the past, Dr. Ciampi says staying active in the community is an essential part of connecting with one's patients, and it allows dentists to make a concerted, external effort to display their commitment to patient comfort and care. He says experience gained through opportunities such as the Knoxville mission provides dentists with unparalleled familiarity with a wide variety of patient cases. Dr. Ciampi encourages patients to consult with a dentist who actively engages in continued education as well as volunteer work. "It was a great feeling to know we were helping people who otherwise would not have the financial resources to get needed dental care."Whether he is performing extractions in Tennessee or enhancing smiles with porcelain veneers in New Jersey, Dr. Ciampi says he is thankful to be involved in such a benevolent field and is excited to continue pursuing the most comfortable care and successful results for all his patients. He also hopes to participate in similar charitable efforts with RAM one to two times a year in the future. "You realize that you do not need to go overseas to volunteer your services, there are plenty of people right here in our own backyard that have severe oral health needs," he said.

To meet Dr. Peter Ciampi, click here.

To read about another volunteer effort, go to No more bullying.

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