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Contributed
Kelowna’s Gospel Mission, is pleased to announce a new partnership that will help alleviate the extreme need in dental care for the less fortunate. With UBC Dentistry, General Practice Residency Program we are proud to re-open the clinic at Cottonwoods Extended Care Facility in Kelowna.
Beginning on Friday October 30th, this clinic will take place once a month, with the intention of a weekly clinic by July 2010. The Cottonwoods Clinic will serve extended care clients who do not have access to a dentist.
Long-time patient advocates and Dental Hygienists, Marilynne Fine and Arlynn Brodie strongly support this move. “The opening of the UBC/Gospel Mission dental project at Cottonwoods is a huge step in the right direction. It has been about 5 years since there was any “on site” dental treatment done for those Resident’s requiring it. The decline in the oral health of many people has been noticeable. Since the Cottonwoods dental clinic has access to a mechanical lift, those Resident’s who could not transfer into a dental chair in a dentist office can be accommodated.”
Since its opening in 2004, the dental clinic at Kelowna’s Gospel Mission has been extremely busy. What started as just 2 nights per week, has now grown into a full time, 5 day a week clinic, plus 2 nights a week, treating a total of 1534 patients.
Current UBC resident, Dr Fardad Moeinvaziri, says “This has been a great experience. Not only do we take care of people in severe pain, but because of their complicated dental problems, I get to treat more diverse issues, more than I’d see in a regular practice. It gives me tremendous satisfaction to do this. It is a great service to the community.”
Shirley Gobel, Director of Dental Services at Kelowna’s Gospel Mission is pleased with the progress of the
dental clinic and points out “all of this would not be possible without the compassionate support of our local
dental community and generous sponsors.
How it all started
Kelowna’s free dental clinic is the result of a community process that brought together diverse people with a common goal in 2002. There is overall recognition and respect for the group of people who undertook a process that; recognized a need, facilitated the necessary partnerships, secured initial funding and engaged volunteers. Over two years the ad-hoc committee comprised of dental professionals, health service agencies, social service agencies and local government met to define the
need, research options, and seek ways to address the problem
In 2004, after more than two years of talking, funding was finally secured through the federal government’s National Homeless Initiative. This funding was evidence of the effective community development process happening in the city. There was now increased awareness among health and social service agencies of the urgency to provide basic relief of pain services for those most in need of dental care who are least able to afford the cost of treatment. The Kelowna Homelessness Steering Committee had now recognized access to dental services as a priority for funding. It was through this linkage of the committee to establish a dental clinic, the Homeless Steering Committee, the United Way, and local government representation that they were able to both find a host agency (Kelowna’s Gospel Mission) and secure funding to support the renovation of clinic space and the purchasing of dental equipment.
PARTNERSHIP WITH UBC
In Sept 2008, the partnership between UBC and Kelowna’s Gospel Mission began with 4 – 2 week clinics. It is now thriving with a 5 day full time clinic, and a 6 week rotation for resident dentists. The Cottonwoods Clinic will be part of this residency.
See the gallery of the clinic below (photos contributed):
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Currently, the UBC General Practice Residency Program staffs a full time 6 week resident. This has expanded the services offered by Kelowna’s Gospel Mission from strictly Pain and Infection Control to restorative and hygiene.
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The twice monthly Pain and Infection Control clinics are staffed by a rotation of 24 volunteer dentists from Kelowna and the surrounding area. The full time clinic is staffed by UBC GPR Dentist.
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Kelowna’s Gospel Mission dental clinic has two chairs for treatment and 1 triage chair. Renovations to expand the clinic are planned for 2010, given the increased demand for services and the increased capacity thanks to the UBC General Practice Residency partnership
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Much of the equipment and materials used for the Kelowna’s Gospel Mission Dental Clinic has been donated from suppliers and local dentists. The clinic has: -New Dentalez chairs -Adec Cabinets -Progeny X-ray units -Eaglesoft software -Lisa Sterilizer -Assistina handpiece maintenance system
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I think what you guy do is amazing. Oral care being so important to overall health, what you guys do is give people hope. I am a 28 yr old female, single mom, student(RCA Program) that is in desperate need of a bridge. I dont know if you could help me, or if maybe you could recommend me to a dentist that would do a payment plan with me, but either way I am desperate. I have $1000 down payment to have one put in but the dentist I have right now wont do it. If there is ANYthing you could do to help please contact me. Thank you agian for your time.
Rene Chapman :)
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