In the U.S., nearly a quarter of adults aged 20–64 have untreated dental cavities and more than half have lost a permanent tooth. Oral pain and tooth loss have a significant negative impact on quality of life and employment by affecting the ability to eat, speak, and smile. Tooth loss is also considered a risk factor for gum disease, coronary artery plaque formation, diabetes, and certain cancers. People experiencing homelessness or living in poverty have inadequate resources for regular dental hygiene. Thus, it isn’t surprising they have a higher prevalence of poor oral health than the general population, including untreated dental decay, tooth loss, and gum disease. At Columbia Center for Implants & Periodontics, we believe everyone deserves good oral health and understand not everyone can afford it. As such, we launched Columbia Center Cares, a community service in Columbia, MD and surrounding towns to help less fortunate people in desperate need of a new smile!
At Columbia Center for Implants & Periodontics, we believe everyone deserves good oral health and understand not everyone can afford it.
More people are unable to afford dental care than other types of health care. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
Our periodontists already are involved in charitable work. For example, Dr. Keyla Torres has served on several medical missions in Puerto Rico and other parts of the U.S. because she is dedicated to helping those in need.
People from the community can nominate others in the community with a chronic health or dental issue to receive full mouth reconstruction at no cost. One of our skilled periodontists will provide full mouth dental implants for free. This includes dental implant parts provided pro bono by the implant companies and a natural-looking prosthesis created at no charge from the dental labs we use. We hope to offer this pro-bono service three times a year. When you nominate a person you believe is worthy, please submit a detailed, compelling story explaining why this person needs a new smile. Although we can’t help every person that is nominated for this unique community service in Columbia, MD, being detailed in your submission will increase the likelihood they’ll be chosen!
