Campus & Community

Many adults in our community cannot afford basic dental treatment, and for the fifth year in a row, the organizers of Free Dentistry Day will do something about it.

On Wednesday, April 24, dentists affiliated with Atlantic Coast Dental Research Clinic, aided by Palm Beach State Dental Health students, will treat adults, 18 and older, at the Dental Health building on the Lake Worth campus. Due to time and space limitations, a maximum of 50 patients will be seen for the day, and treatment will be limited to fillings and extractions. By focusing the treatment in this way, the dentists will be able to do the most good and bring relief to low-income adults who have put off this type of treatment due to the cost. As a result, the dentists will not perform dental check-ups, cleanings or advanced dental work, such as crowns and bridges. Patients who cannot be treated will be given a list of options.

Patients will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis and are encouraged to arrive before the doors open at 6 a.m. Treatment will begin at 8 a.m., and while several dentists will be available, patients should be prepared to wait.

Dentists licensed to practice in Florida will perform the treatments, taking time away from their practices to volunteer for this event. Students enrolled in Palm Beach State’s Dental Assisting program will assist the dentists chairside, and PBSC Dental Hygiene students will conduct pre-exam interviews and patient education.

“The students, faculty and staff of Dental Health Services at Palm Beach State College are very excited to host our Fifth Annual Free Dentistry Day event,” said Colleen Bradshaw, associate professor and Dental Assisting department chair. “Supported by the outstanding dentists from the Atlantic Coast Dental Research Clinic, we have provided relief for patients in pain who cannot afford dental treatment. It’s a humbling experience every year, and we feel honored to be able to serve the community in this way.”

Free Dentistry Day is an outgrowth of the longtime partnership between Atlantic Coast Dental Research Clinic and Palm Beach State’s Dental Health Services Department. ACDRC uses the College’s dental clinic to provide Dental Assisting students with the required clinical experience and community dentists with continuing education.

Dr. Carlos Boudet, a board member of ACDRC, has recruited the volunteer dentists for this event every year.

“Free Dentistry Day has been a success from the start, and it wouldn’t be possible without the Dental Health programs and the volunteer dentists,” Boudet said. “The students are always great, and the doctors always fantastic. Every year we treat a number of patients with very severe problems, and we look forward to serving those in need for the fifth year. It’s really a tremendous day.”

No appointments will be taken, but for additional information, call 561-868-3747.

Directions to Lake Worth campus (4200 Congress Ave.): Enter at Congress Ave. entrance (at traffic light between Sixth Ave. South and Lake Worth Rd.). Once on the campus, take the first left. At the stop sign, turn right. The Dental Assisting Program Clinic is in the Dental Health (DH) building, the one-story building on the right. Park in the Copper parking lot directly across from the building. Click for a Lake Worth campus map.