Volunteering with ADA NSW continues to bring huge rewards and satisfaction for dental professionals, as well as greatly benefiting patients who most need it.

A 30-year career in dentistry has brought Dr Harminder ‘Min’ Sian (right) many professional rewards, but being involved with Filling the Gap has topped the lot. “It’s the best thing I have done,” he said. “I’ve always tried to be a patient-centric
dentist and been aware of the importance of oral health, but this program has really
shown me how good oral health can transform people’s lives. “If you can stop people feeling pain and help make a massive change to their lives,
it’s amazing.” Dr Sian has now volunteered at about 20 clinics with Filling the Gap, which works with charities to provide pro bono dental
treatment for vulnerable patients, after seeing an advertisement about three years ago. “I wasn’t sure what to expect at first, but the staff were fantastic,” Dr Sian, who ran a practice on Sydney’s Northern Beaches for about 25 years and combines volunteering with working a couple of days a week, said.
“They helped answer all my questions and have been very supportive throughout the whole process. “Treatment has been quite varied.
There’s a lot of broken teeth and extractions and also occasional root canals.
“In private practice you’re under pressure to produce, whether it’s KPIs that have been set or just knowing that there’s a certain amount that needs to be billed every day.
As a volunteer, however, there’s not that same pressure, so you can just come and do the work without that pressure.
“That can make the whole experience more enjoyable and less stressful.” Dr Sian, who graduated in dentistry from England in the late 1980s before moving to Australia soon after, said taking an “open-minded” approach was key for any volunteers. “In my practice I am seeing patients from a different socio-economic background (and there is also) more elective dentistry,” he said.
“(With volunteering) you see many patients needing full mouth rehabilitation and who are heavily periodontally compromised. “You need to devise the best treatment strategy (and) you really have to think on your feet sometimes. “I’m a great believer that you never stop learning in dentistry and being involved with Filling the Gap has underlined that.” Dr Sian said volunteering with Filling the Gap, which has clinics planned every month during 2023, has been hugely satisfying. “I’m the sort of person who backs out of something very quickly if I am not enjoying it,” he said. “To come back so many times and know I am doing something so rewarding is wonderful. “Hearing the stories from patients and
seeing the profound effect your work is having on their lives is incredibly rewarding.“
Dr Sian, who is looking forward to volunteering at future clinics, recommended fellow dentists give volunteering a try. “I would say, ‘just come and have a look’,” he said. “It’s not a huge ask to take one day to attend a clinic.
“You may not like it and that’s fine, but it may turn out to be the best thing you’ve done.”