ADA News

Access project: From left, Drs. Thomas A. Levy, Gerald N. Glickman, Alan Gluskin, Marjorie Domingo and Santosh Sundaresan, organizers of the AAE Access to Care Project, share a moment during the event, which treated 54 underserved patients in San Diego.

The project took place in the University of Southern California School of Dentistry's Mobile Dental Clinics that were stationed in the San Diego Convention Center. Volunteers performed root canals on 54 underserved patients in the San Diego community and also provided about $85,000 in free endodontic treatment.

"The patients treated in San Diego likely would have had extractions if we weren't able to help," said Dr. Gerald N. Glickman, AAE immediate past president and the driving force behind the Access to Care Project. "The services we provided will help these patients keep their natural teeth for a lifetime."

The patients were prescreened by community health clinics throughout the San Diego area, and were referred back to the clinics for restorative work and follow-up care.

"It's nice to know that there are organizations like yours (that) are willing to help people like me in this hard economy," said patient Katrina Leffingwell. "Without this program, I would not have been able to afford treatment."

"The AAE's first Access to Care Project is a very heart-warming example of what our members can do, but all dentists need to continue to provide that charitable care and improve access year-round," Dr. Glickman said.

Approximately 40 AAE members and faculty and residents from the School of Dentistry of the University of Southern California participated in the day-long event, which received support from Henry Schein Dental/Henry Schein Cares.

For more information about AAE, visit www.aae.org.