Tina is a 53-year-old woman who lives in north Denver. She enjoys reading, sewing, painting and making jewelry in her free time. In 1996, she was diagnosed with Meniere’s disease that has led to severe vertigo, as well as balance and hearing issues. She has asthma, osteoarthritis and experiences neuropathy in both of her feet. She needs the assistance of a cane, and sometimes a walker, in order to get around safely.
In addition to these health challenges, her dental health was also deteriorating. Tina had severe dry mouth, receding gums, gingivitis and needed several crowns. Prior to becoming permanently disabled and unable to work, she worked as a tax accountant for a number of years. Tina now relies on a Social Security Disability benefit and food stamps to makes ends meet. She could not afford the much-needed dental treatment and it seemed far beyond her reach.
How DDS Helped
Fortunately, Tina applied to the Donated Dental Services (DDS) program and was linked with two generous volunteers that restored her dental health and smile.
Who Helped: Dr. Lindsay Compton provided a comprehensive exam and several X-rays, restored one tooth, and with the help of Sonbeam Dental Lab, donated six crowns.
“It really wasn’t a different practice model. We did not treat her any different. She just became one of my patients. My philosophy on this program is if we just did a little bit, it would make a big impact.”
—Dr. Lindsay Compton, DDS Volunteer
Learn more about volunteering or to learn about DDS in your state, visit our state pages.
