PROJECT
“ Imagine applying for a job without any teeth , or trying to maintain employment to get a paycheck to cover rent for your new apartment , but suffering every day with dental pain . Oral health is a key piece of preventing and alleviating homelessness . We are proud to be essential in getting someone back on their feet .”
Dr . Carvo ( Harvard University ‘ 19 ) has served as a governor of the Philadelphia County Dental Society and is a National Health Service Corps scholar . Dr . Nguyen ( Temple University ‘ 20 ) serves as an ADA Ambassador , vice chair of the PDA New Dentist Committee and Corresponding Secretary of the Chester County-Delaware County Dental Society . With three new dentists highly involved in organized dentistry at Project HOME , the most underserved and needy individuals and families are not only able to receive dental care , they are also advocated for .
“ The patients we treat often can ’ t receive care elsewhere because they are uninsured without income , or they have Medicaid , which is not accepted by many dentists ,” Dr . Burkhardt said . “ It is awesome to be able to not only provide them with direct treatment to alleviate their pain and treat caries or periodontitis , but also to educate them so they have the knowledge on how to prevent recurrence of oral disease before it becomes painful . Our patients are so grateful .”
There are several unique aspects to SKWC Dental as a FQHC that are notable .
Throughout the year , fourth-year dental students from Temple University are able to visit the site and provide dental care to the patients on their outreach rotations . They are provided clinical mentoring and experience from the dental public health perspective to broaden their understanding of the profession . In addition , residents and faculty from the Einstein Endodontics Department visit twice a month to provide root canals , particularly molar root canals , free-of-charge to established patients who would have otherwise needed to be referred out for endodontic treatment . One of the visiting endodontic faculty members is Dr . Louis Rossman , who is a member of the Philadelphia County Dental Society and volunteers as a specialist mentor for their events .
“ Every other week provides the opportunity for me to arrive at the Klein Wellness Center with my second-year postdoctoral endodontic residents from Albert Einstein Medical Center . We have been spending these Thursday afternoons here for approximately six years . The benefits to the patients and the residents are outstanding ,” Dr . Rossman said . “ For the patients , we remove pain , we restore function and provide self-esteem by saving the natural tooth .
For many , it is the first time they have experienced a dental procedure , let alone root canal , painlessly . For the postdoctoral resident , they must adapt to a new working environment , they must adhere to a timed schedule and they have one on one interaction with supervising faculty . It is a wonderful opportunity for patients and students .”
Einstein Endo provides quality care in their designated operatory that includes advanced equipment such as the endodontic microscope , a Biolase machine , and more . The opportunity of receiving root canals without financial burden has been crucial for the patients to not have to resort to extractions and therefore , have a long-term improvement in their quality of life .
“ The patients are so grateful ,” Dr . Rossman said . “ Early on , we had a patient that was crying and begging to save his broken front teeth . I asked him how he lost his front teeth ? He replied ‘ I forgot to duck when I was in jail .’ He was so excited by what we provided , saving the teeth for post and crowns , that he left crying .”
While the Stephen Klein Wellness Center is only one building under Project HOME , it offers a warm health home to many . The patientcentered care and public health advocacy make for heavy work , but it is necessary for the mission of the dental profession . One patient at a time , the dentists of Project HOME relentlessly tackle the many health disparities Philadelphia communities face .
About the Author
Dr . Selena Nguyen is a 2020 graduate of the Temple University Maurice H . Kornberg School of Dentistry and has been in private practice of general dentistry for three years . She serves on the PDA New Dentist Committee and represented PDA as an alternate delegate at the 2022 ADA House of Delegates . She is the District Secretary of the Dental Society of Chester County and Delaware County . Dr . Nguyen has made a significant impact statewide with her PDA social media takeovers , in which she has shared her experiences at a variety of organized dentistry events and helped to foster member engagement while showcasing the benefits of our social media .
JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL 17