The team at Bella Dental Care have made an incredible contribution to Filling the Gap (FTG) and the ADA Dental Health Foundation (ADA DHF).

The Baulkham Hills-based dental practice recently provided dental aid to over 80 people in a single day. Referrals poured in from various local charities around Sydney helping those most in need in our community.

Practice owners Dr Peter Mansour and Dr Daniel Seo, and Practice Manager Mikhala Coad were instrumental to the success of the volunteer day, working closely with FTG clinical coordinators Juliana Osorio Garcia and Karen Smith to bring the day to life.

Around 13 dentists and oral health therapists were involved at different times throughout the day to treat this large cohort of patients, with follow up denture treatment provided by an in-house dental prosthetist. A large cohort of dental assistants and reception staff are also credited with ensuring the day ran smoothly.

FTG and ADA DHF provide a vital lifeline to oral health care for those who are unable to access mainstream dental services. Some patients referred through charities may be eligible for public dentistry but can face major difficulties with accessing that service, such as those experiencing homelessness or mental health issues. And some people, including some refugees and asylum seekers,  may face delays in receiving Centrelink assistance or may not be eligible for Medicare, affecting their ability to access public dental care.

ADA NSW Vice-President and Chair of Filling the Gap, Dr Jodie Olivier, was one of many to volunteer on the day and said it was a unique situation to help vulnerable people with poor oral health.

“We are lucky at Bella Dental Care to have a large and enthusiastic team who put their heart and soul into the volunteering day,” Dr Olivier said. “It was a hugely rewarding experience to be able to offer dental care to those in need. 

“We live in a world of dental inequity, with some groups of people unable to access mainstream dentistry. One of the patients we treated requested an assessment for dentures. This patient is recovering from addiction and is reintegrating into the community after a period of incarceration.”

The patients had a number of missing teeth and all remaining teeth had extensive decay, affecting eating and smiling. They were told in prison that they needed full dentures.

This creates a challenge making it incredibly difficult to live in an in-between state, knowing all your teeth need to be removed yet being unable to access the care you need in order to function properly or feel part of society again.

Through FTG and ADA DHF, the team were able to complete the necessary treatment to help this patient continue their journey.

“In private practice it is easy to slip into the mindset that achieving and maintaining oral health is straightforward,” Dr Olivier said. “The majority of my regularly attending patients have stable oral health with good long term prognosis for their dentition.

“Treating patients throughout the volunteering day was a sombre reminder that there are many biopsychosocial factors which can result in extensive dental disease, while also making access to dental care almost impossible. In 2024 it seems crazy that this level of dental inequity exists.”

This is the second time Bella Dental Care has been involved in the event and they plan to volunteer again in the future.

Bella Dental Care last volunteered in 2021. When Dr Olivier floated the idea of volunteering again, Practice Manager Mikhala Coad and owners Dr Daniel Seo and Dr Peter Mansour had no hesitation.

“Our team followed their lead and quickly jumped on board. We recognise that pro bono programs through FTG and ADA DHF have the potential to improve the quality of life of vulnerable people who have been unable to access essential oral health care, and I am so proud of the entire team who embraced the experience.”

Through the kindness and hard work of volunteers with these programs, patients are able to live pain free and eat again. They restore people’s dignity by enabling them to speak and smile with confidence. Congratulations and well done to every member of the team including reception staff, the clinical team and practitioners.

Breakout #1

Below is a list of some of the charities whose clients attended the volunteering day:

• The Wayside Chapel
• Bobby Goldsmith Foundation
• Barnardos
• Red Cross
• Whos
• Asylum Seekers Centre
• Jesuit Refugee Service
• Lou’s Place
• Northern beaches Womens Shelter
• Justice Support Centre

Breakout #2
Do you want to get involved?

If you’re willing to lend your time and expertise to volunteer for Filling the Gap there are great opportunities available. Filling the Gap can facilitate volunteering onsite at the ADA NSW offices at St Leonards or in a private practice.  

Contact Juliana Osorio Garcia or Karen Smith at Filling the Gap at [email protected] and discover how you can be a part of this impactful initiative or visit the website to find out more at www.fillingthegap.org.au