IN OUR OWN BACKYARD

In 1990, Dr. Ralph B. Montgomery founded the non-profit Salt Lake Donated Dental Services (SLDDS). Its mission is to relieve dental pain and suffering while preserving oral health through preventative education and comprehensive treatment for those with no other access to dental care. Having lost his own teeth in his youth due to living in poverty, he dedicated his energy and expertise to providing extraordinary dental care to the under-served. Thus ensuring others would not have to suffer as he did. After multiple humanitarian trips to the Philippines, Dr. Montgomery realized that he need not travel the world to promote oral health. A critical need existed in his own Utah backyard.

SLDDS was the first place I participated in humanitarian dental service. I chose it because SLDDS focused on preserving the oral integrity of its patients and treating them with the same high-quality care expected in a private dental office. Soon after opening my practice in Manti I would bring my entire staff to the SLDDS clinic on a quarterly basis. At that time it was located on Fourth South and Fourth West in Salt Lake City. We all loved it, especially my dental assistants. It allowed them to donate their skills in a way that was meaningful and affordable. Working as a team brought us closer together and increased morale back in our own clinic. There is just something special about serving in a different location and working on people in real need of your skills.

Sasha Harvey has been the Executive Director of SLDDS since early 2019. She is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the clinic. Her duties include ensuring financial stability and compliance of SLDDS programs, governing the Board and serving as primary spokesperson to the public. Prior to this position she served as Treasurer on the Board of Directors for two years and worked in the areas of compliance and administration of public and private welfare and retirement plans. With degrees in Political Science and International Relations, she brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to her position.

While the majority of dental diseases are preventable, they remain quite common among low-income populations. With approximately 100,000 people in Salt Lake County and 23,000 people in Davis County currently living in poverty, free services and early intervention are critical. Every dollar spent on preventative care, can save up to $50 in restorative and emergency treatment. SLDDS volunteers provide free comprehensive care for the homeless and those with incomes below the Federal Poverty Level.

The two offices of SLDDS offer a tremendous opportunity to give back to the communities we live in. The Salt Lake County Clinic has five operatories and the Davis County clinic offers a ten operatory, state-of-the-art facility, both with modern equipment and materials available. The dental offices are well organized, clean and efficient. Staff are service oriented and passionate about dentistry. Harvey says “Volunteering has never been easier! Dentists and hygienists are welcome to use the experienced dental assistants on staff or bring their own team. The clinic will schedule patients, provide equipment and materials and maintain patient records. All you have to do is show up!” She goes on to say that, “SLDDS is dedicated to working with the volunteers’ schedules and offers flexible hours, with morning or afternoon shifts available.” Volunteer dental professionals are eligible to fulfill 15% of their continuing education requirements, up to 4.5 credits per year, with hours spent volunteering. Providers can receive one hour of CE credit for every 4 hours of volunteer work. (Utah Code Ann. 58-13-3(8)).

Ms. Harvey goes on to say, “SLDDS is incredibly grateful for the generous support of our volunteers. You change lives in more ways than you can ever imagine! For you, it might just be a routine check-up, but for a patient it is a sense of pride for taking ownership of their health. For you, it might just be a simple extraction, for a patient it is a relief from immense pain they have been experiencing for years. For you, it might just be a set of dentures, for a patient it is the courage to ask someone special on a date. For you, it might just be a filling, for a patient it is a belly laugh with a co-worker without having to cover their mouth. For you, it might just be scaling and root planing, for a patient it is the confidence to attend their children’s parent teacher conference for the very first time. These are the stories of real individuals in our neighborhoods. But to see the difference on a larger scale, we need more intention, more compassion, and more dedication. We need you.”

If you are looking for ways to begin doing humanitarian work for yourself or your staff, SLDDS is a great place to start. We are so fortunate to have compassionate and giving individuals like Dr. Montgomery and Ms. Harvey who make it possible for us to donate our knowledge and skills to the poor and dispossessed in our own backyard.

For more information about the opportunity and to schedule your next volunteer day, please contact Sasha Harvey, SLDDS Executive Director, at volunteer@donateddental.org or 801-972-2747.

Dr Len Aste UDA President Elect