The American Dental Association estimates that up to 600 Louisiana and Mississippi dentists have lost their practices and been displaced due to Hurricane Katrina.
The Arizona Dental Association (AzDA) has responded by donating $50,000 to be shared by the Louisiana Dental Association and Mississippi Dental Association.
Additionally, AzDA is mobilizing its members (approximately 2,300 licensed dentists), to provide free dental care to evacuee patients as well as housing and jobs for dentists who've been evacuated to Arizona. Dr. Kris Volcheck, Director of the Dental Clinic at Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS), is organizing the flow of volunteers.
"Within just a day or two," Dr. Volcheck noted, "more than seventy dentists stepped forward and we expect that number to grow significantly. We anticipate that due to the socioeconomic straits from which many of the evacuee patients come, many acute dental problems will be identified at the onset of the screening process, which will begin as soon as possible. The number of patients who will need treatment, and the duration of our campaign, is unknown at this time, but our volunteer dentists have pledged their full support and we're very grateful for their generosity."
