April 6, 2019 marks the eleventh annual Gift From The Heart event. For those who don’t know, Gift From The Heart (GFTH) is the day when registered dental hygienists open their hearts and provide no-cost dental hygiene services to those who can’t afford regular dental hygiene care. The Barry’s Bay Dental Hygiene Clinic is proud to participate again this year. (Marcia Rutledge RDH pictured)
GFTH was founded by a registered dental hygienist named Bev Woods. Woods is a very caring woman who saw a large group of the population were unable to afford or access dental hygiene care. She has worked tirelessly to create the event that we now celebrate at the beginning of National Dental Hygiene Week each year. Woods feels like the day not only benefits those in our communities who can’t afford regular care, but also demonstrates the number of Canadians who go without care to policy makers and stakeholders.
This year 150 participants are expected to take part in GFTH. For a full list of participating locations, click HERE to visit the website and select 2019 Locations. LINK: http://www.giftfromtheheart.ca/ It is exciting to see just how many locations are now involved in the day. GFTH has grown in numbers each of the eleven years and the total value of care provided over that period is estimated to be around $1.2 million.
At the Barry’s Bay Dental Hygiene Clinic we provide free full-service dental hygiene appointments. This means we complete an oral cancer screening, full mouth assessment, debridement (teeth cleaning), remove stain, and provide tips or recommendations on how to take care of your mouth. Children’s appointments take roughly 20 minutes and adults typically take 40 minutes to an hour depending on their individual needs. Walk-ins are welcome on GFTH day.
At the Barry’s Bay Dental Hygiene Clinic we use the honour system on GFTH day. We do not require proof of income, etc. However, we do ask that people be honest to allow those who are really in need to receive care. We also ask that those who have dental benefits refrain from having treatment completed. If anyone reading this article has dental benefits but can’t afford to pay for treatment up front, please contact the Barry’s Bay Dental Hygiene Clinic. We can arrange to help fit you into our regular business hour schedule.
Some paperwork does need to be completed before treatment takes place. The medical history is key to ensure that it is safe to provide dental hygiene treatment. Those who have had a heart attack or stroke within the past six months are not able to have treatment. If you have had a joint replacement, you must get the okay to have dental hygiene treatment completed by your orthopedic surgeon prior to the appointment. Anyone who has had a heart valve replaced must take an antibiotic an hour before their appointment. This medication must be prescribed by their medical doctor or dentist. It is important to report any medications, vitamins, and/or supplements that you take on a daily basis, because many of these have effects that can be seen in the mouth and may cause oral disease such as gum disease or cavities. Having a full medical history completed allows your dental hygienist to assess your individual needs more easily.
Registered dental hygienists are not the only ones who open their hearts on April 6. Kaylee Coulas, our Administrator at the Barry’s Bay Dental Hygiene Clinic has volunteered her time for the day. And the GFTH event would not be possible without the generous support of our partners Henry Schein Canada, Purolator Canada,Supermax, Hu-Friedy, Crosstex, Crest-Oral B, Micrylium, Colgate, Wicked White, 3M, Medicom, Oral Science, CDHA and PDT. These companies supply volunteers with free supplies for Gift From The Heart.
If you are a Canadian who cannot afford regular dental hygiene care, please go to the website www.giftfromtheheart.ca to find out more. Find an office near you that participates in GFTH and receive no-cost dental hygiene treatment. Oral health has so many links to overall health such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, low birth weight babies, some types of cancer, dementia and so many others. You can’t afford not to take advantage of Gift From The Heart.
About the author: Marcia Rutledge is an independent dental hygienist who owns and operates the Barry’s Bay Dental Hygiene Clinic. She opened her Clinic in July of 2010 and has been providing dental hygiene services to the community since. She loves being able to provide individual care to each and every one of her patients. Preventive dentistry is Marcia’s passion.
We are indeed very fortunate as a community to have such a dedicated and generous health professional . Thank you Marcia.
Thank you Joanne! That is very kind of you.