Ann Zinger, 51, says as a dentist she's watched the dental field evolve for more than 20 years. Proper dental care is still inaccessible to many adults who cannot afford routine cleanings or costly procedures, she said, like root canals or extractions.
That's why Zinger and her colleague, Karen Roschella, owners of Roschella & Zinger Dental Group in Marriottsville, will open their doors to a day of free dentistry for anyone 18 and older on Saturday, Sept. 17, as part of the Dentistry from the Heart nonprofit organization.
"This will be our fourth year participating," said Zinger, a Woodbine resident. "Every year, we treat at least 100 patients that day and give away over $60,000 in free dental care. It takes about 100 volunteers and all year to get all the donations and supplies and line up the other doctors, oral surgeons and translators."
Dentistry from the Heart was founded by Vincent Monticciolo in New Port Richey, Fla., in 2001, according to the organization's website, after he recognized a need in the community to provide dental care to those without dental insurance. Monticciolo's efforts later blossomed throughout the country and the world, including Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, where dental offices host events to provide free dental care.
At Roschella & Zinger Dental Group, Zinger said she, Roschella and their 14 staff members reach out to every food bank, unemployment office and church to spread the word and collect donations from vendors and patients.
"We have a close relationship with a lot of the dental supply vendors, so we request donations for this event way in advance to give them plenty of time," said team leader Linda Mabry. "A lot of donations come from our patients. They donate a lot of things to make sandwiches [for volunteers], tables, chairs, tents, coolers and trash cans."
Mabry said registration will be held from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., with the first 100 patients guaranteed to be seen. Once their blood pressure has been checked, each patient will have their choice of a filling, extraction or cleaning. Patients should try to arrive as early as possible and should take any prescribed medications.
In previous years, Zinger said patients have arrived as early as 9 p.m. the night before, camping out inside their cars in the parking lot.
"We start registration at 7 in the morning under some flashlights" as nurses and translators work together to collect patients' medical history, Zinger said. "Then, they get tagged with a number, what they're expecting and they see either Dr. Roschella or myself to figure out what it is they need and who they need to see to get that done."
Most patients choose extractions, she said, having dealt with the pain for months, even years.
A Cooksville resident, Roschella, 54, said the event requires "endless hours" of work by volunteers and staff.
"It takes a big team effort to pull off the event, but it's worth it to see all the happy faces and hear 'thank yous' all day long," Roschella said.
Having participated in the dental group's event all four years, volunteer Jeannine Reed, 58, said the patients' appreciation was all the reason she needed to keep coming back. The Ellicott City resident recently retired after working the front desk in another dental office for 34 years. She met Roschella when the dentist was in dental school. They've remained in touch ever since.
With limited access to dental care for adults, Reed said she understands the importance of a bright smile.
"Your smile is the first thing that people see for potential employment," she said. "We see repeat patients because this is the only time they can get dental care. There are plenty of opportunities for children to get dental care at little-to-no cost. Even with Obamacare, dentistry is not a priority and dentistry [should be] a priority because people die from dental infections."
Reed said she has talked to patients in the past who have shed tears of happiness after receiving procedures at no cost. Their gratitude is always overwhelming. She will continue working the check-in booth at this year's event.
"I'm looking forward to going back and helping the community, possibly seeing some of the patients' success stories," Reed said.
Every event is always a blessing, Zinger said, watching patients calmly wait on the front lawn and sometimes shed tears of appreciation with the dental staff.
"It's literally the hardest, longest day you work, but truly the most gratifying, and more grateful patients ever, who have been living in pain," Zinger said. "They're treated with respect and when they leave, these are some happy, thankful people."