Good Shepherd Ministries

By: Jeanie Bath, DDS, Dental Director, Good Shepherd Ministries

When the pandemic hit, Good Shepherd already had an extraction phone line in place. We were ready to impact vulnerable members of our community at a time of their great need early in the pandemic. Many people with low income (or no income due to the pandemic) did not know where else to turn.

Here are deidentified excerpts from a few patient notes during that time:

• Pain was excruciating, worse than getting shot (and patient reports he`s been shot 3 times). • Terrified of getting this virus so did not want to go to dentist, but couldn`t bear it any longer. Ran out of ibuprofen two days ago; scared to go buy more bc of the pandemic. • The only thing that makes it feel better is rinsing with mouthwash, which patient carries in his pocket. • Pain for a few days, then yesterday’s pain “so bad I thought I was gonna die.” • Patient took antibiotics from feed store and pain went away, then pain returned, then antibiotics from feed store again, then pain returned again. • Can’t do anything with the debilitating pain, can`t work, the pain is constant. • When it hurts, pain shoots up side of face and eye. “I cry: It hurts that bad, I cry.”

Our numbers were down, but our care was intense. We saw patients with so much pain they

• stayed awake many nights • tried to pull their own teeth • nearly overdosed on ibuprofen and/or tylenol and/or alcohol • blamed and hated themselves for letting their teeth get like this • wondered how much longer they could take it before completely giving up.

Ms. C told us she was evicted from her apartment shortly before the non-eviction rules. Two days later, her car broke down. Then her mom from out-of-state was in a nearly fatal car accident. She found an overhang to sleep under during a storm, but was sent away because the overhang was on private property. Pandemic closures meant she couldn’t find public restrooms. One bright spot: a local church welcomed her to sleep there while they were closed.

Then her tooth abscessed.

She has extreme dental anxiety and cried while preparing for her treatment. Her tooth came out without complication, and we thanked God together for this!

Meanwhile, our Good Shepherd Dental Strategic Plan provides measures for keeping the purpose on track through this pandemic disruption. Prevention of mouth disease for our comprehensive care patients is intentional and measured. We are still early in this process but working toward larger impact goals.

Pandemic restrictions on student activity required a massive increase in volunteer dentists, and WOW, Good Shepherd dentists have volunteered like never before! THANK YOU to many ODA member dentists who have cared so well for our community in this time of great need!

GOOD SHEPHERD CLINIC AWARDED $20,000 CHALLENGE GRANT

FROM DELTA DENTAL OF OKLAHOMA FOUNDATION

Good Shepherd Clinic was awarded a $20,000 otherwise may go without desperately-needed grant from the Delta Dental Of Oklahoma care,” Good Shepherd Clinic’s Executive

Foundation to provide access to oral health Director Pam Timmons said. “The funding care to assist low-income, uninsured residents will enable our organization to bring essential of Oklahoma City to receive dental care they medical and dental services to uninsured would otherwise go without. Oklahomans while serving as a teaching clinic

Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation is a not-for-profit dental benefits company. It is the mission of Delta Dental of Oklahoma (DDOK) to hundreds of medical and dental students each year and relieving the burden on other community services.” to improve the oral health of all Oklahomans. Good Shepherd has remained on the frontlines

DDOK strives to accomplish this mission by and continues on by providing life-saving providing quality dental benefits plans to more medical, dental, vision, and prescription than one million Oklahomans, and by donating medication to the working poor who are living 50 percent of annual contribution to reserves to in poverty. Our volunteer doctors, dentists, its Foundation to advance dental education and staff and hundreds of medical students have access to care. been continuing to make sure our community

The grant funds will be used to provide remains healthy and productive citizens. comprehensive mouth stabilization to all Good Shepherd is a charitable clinic in the medical patients and urgent mouth care to any heart of midtown Oklahoma City. We do not vulnerable member in the community. receive any insurance, federal, or state funding

“We are honored to receive this grant allowing us to serve even more in our community who and rely on volunteers and donors to provide for those living in need. 46 journal | Nov/Dec 2020