Thanks to several major sponsors who have made significant donations of equipment and resources, around 2,000 patients will receive cleanings, fillings, extractions and a limited number of full and partial dentures at CDA Cares, the CDA Foundation’s volunteer-run dental clinic coming to Modesto Oct. 26-27. Those sponsors include Henry Schein, GES, Planmeca USA and Western Dental.
Western Dental:
As a longtime supporter of CDA Cares, Western Dental is committed to the view that it shares with the CDA Foundation — that quality oral health care is core to total body health care. The company has contributed $50,000 for the events along with a volunteer workforce that numbers in the dozens at every clinic.
The Modesto clinic will be Western Dental’s 10th event, and it plans to build a team to volunteer there as well. “We know that far too many Californians are not getting sufficient access to the care they need,” said John Luther, DDS, chief dental officer of Western Dental. “For us, joining with CDA Cares is like a weekend turbo boost of the kind of outreach and care we offer in our dental offices every day. It inspires and energizes us every time.”
Preet Takkar, Western Dental’s chief information officer, volunteered at CDA Cares for the first time in April in Anaheim. One of more than 40 Western Dental volunteers who attended, Takkar said he was humbled and overwhelmed by the experience.
“There were so many patients I spoke to who were appreciative of the opportunity to be there and receive the care they needed,” he said. “It truly is a life-changing event for patients and volunteers and is such a worthy cause.”
Since 2012, CDA Cares has provided $20.75 million in care to more than 25,000 people thanks to the generosity of more than 22,000 volunteers. CDA Cares provides fillings, extractions, cleanings, limited dentures, anterior root canals, oral health education and resources for dental care in the community. In addition to providing care to nearly 2,000 people at each event, CDA Cares educates the public and policymakers about the importance of oral health and the need for an adequately funded dental safety net, including a Denti-Cal program that works.