We all live full and very busy lives—my schedule is constantly packed! Why, then, do I make the time to volunteer with Smiles for Central America? Let me tell you a little bit about this wonderful organization and why I volunteer.
Smiles for Central America: A Great Organization for Any Dentist
Smiles for Central America is a LDS-based organization. Their mission: to provide care, support, and love to our neighbors through free medical and dental care for the poor in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Honduras. I have been privileged to visit all of these countries, going on ten different aid missions in the past seven years.
Volunteering: Rewarding Work for a Cosmetic Dentist
During my dentist missions, I can typically treat thirty patients. But I’m not alone. While in Honduras, there were twenty-three dentists, six oral surgeons, and five physicians. We were able to treat 682 patients!
Volunteers, including my wife and children, work as schedulers, x-ray techs, and chair-side assistants. I have had the opportunity to serve as director of radiology on multiple occasions, supervising the acquisition of x-rays. Once x-rays are taken, a diagnosis and treatment plan is made.
A dentist will likely perform many dental procedures, including root canals, fillings, and extractions. We make sure each patient is decay-free, out of pain, and happy with the work provided by their dentist.
As a cosmetic dentist, it is rewarding to fabricate removable partial dentures for people who have lost front teeth. The transformation in their smile and demeanor after they receive their new teeth is amazing.
Dental Volunteer Work: A Highlight for Years to Come
Volunteering is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I will continue helping local patients and doing my volunteer work as often as I can. It has proven to be a highlight or my life and I hope it will continue to be for many years to come.
Would you like to learn more about how a cosmetic dentist can help you? Are you interested in supporting a volunteer organization? Contact us today for more information about these topics.
Dr. Barton H. Foutz, DDS
2510 Wigwam Parkway Suite 100 Henderson, NV 89074
(702) 792-5929
