Father’s Day is a day in which we honor the fathers and father figures that have helped shape us into who we are today. Dental Lifeline Network has been fortunate enough to have several father and daughter/son duos volunteer their time and skills to helping those in need access comprehensive dental care. Among some of these generous volunteers is the father-daughter duo of Dr. Dale Finkbine and Dr. Megan Finkbine Griffin of Finkbine Family Dentistry in Summerville, SC. This father-daughter duo has made a profound impact through their participation in the SC Donated Dental Services (DDS) program, serving 10 patients whose donated care totaled more than $53,000.
One patient whose life they were able to impact was Herbert, a 75-year-old Summerville resident who faced numerous health challenges such as diabetes. He also is the primary caretaker for his wife, a stroke survivor. In addition to his own health challenges, Herbert’s oral health had deteriorated significantly, and he was missing several teeth which heightened the risk of him having additional health complications.
Living on a modest Social Security benefit, Herbert was unable to afford the necessary dental care. Fortunately, the father-daughter duo stepped in to help. Together, Dr. Megan Finkbine Griffin and her father, Dr. Dale Finkbine, performed ten extractions and provided him with both a full and partial denture. Their generosity helped not only to restore Herbert’s oral health, but also enhanced his overall quality of life.
Although Dr. Dale Finkbine is now retired, Dr. Megan Finkbine Griffin continues to carry on the legacy of providing compassionate care to those in her community and through her participation in the DDS program.
Commenting on her experience volunteering through the DDS program, Dr. Finkbine Griffin stated: “It is such a rewarding experience. A lot of times in volunteer work we do things because we think we’re giving to our patients, but we have found in our volunteerism that I end up receiving so much back from the patients that it is so incredibly rewarding. They’re a blessing to me.”
