My primary job at these events is the pre-event set-up and maintenance during the day . I am known as the fix-it guy . With my tie-dyed pants and walkie-talkie , I am easy to spot . During the day I met with patients saying thank you for the care . I found students who told me how “ cool this whole thing is .” Staff and faculty were smiling under the congestion that was so unlike a normal day at the school .
By 5:00 p . m . we had treated more than 450 patients , performing both health and dental exams . Hygiene , restorative , extractions , pedodontics , endodontics and prosthetics filled the first-floor clinics and the third-floor graduate endodontic clinic . It was a long day , but a wonderful day filled with pride that we brought all of this together in such an uncertain environment .
Due to COVID , we had to forego our usually Friday night gathering . Instead , students and staff went home , and volunteers went to their respective hotels , or homes if local , for a well-deserved rest .
Saturday morning brought more of the same . Long lines before sunrise were the theme again . Unfortunately , we had fewer volunteers on Saturday . We put out an urgent call to the dental students , and many of them responded by coming back to help .
With fewer endodontists on Saturday , I found myself providing specialty care alongside some of the recent graduated residents as well as our Department Chair , Dr . Cemil Yesilsoy . Between the four of us on Saturday , we performed more than 30 root canal treatments . I can ’ t say enough for my endodontic department staff that worked both days and the many other volunteers that added a helping hand .
All photos courtesy of Mickey Nye / Mickey Nye Photography JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2022 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL 25