Kelowna’s Gospel Mission, is pleased to announce a new partnership that will help alleviate the extreme need in dental care for the less fortunate. With UBC Dentistry, General Practice Residency Program we are proud to re-open the clinic at Cottonwoods Extended Care Facility in Kelowna.
Beginning on Friday October 30th, this clinic will take place once a month, with the intention of a weekly clinic by July 2010. The Cottonwoods Clinic will serve extended care clients who do not have access to a dentist.
Long-time patient advocates and Dental Hygienists, Marilynne Fine and Arlynn Brodie strongly support this move. “The opening of the UBC/Gospel Mission dental project at Cottonwoods is a huge step in the right direction. It has been about 5 years since there was any “on site” dental treatment done for those Resident’s requiring it. The decline in the oral health of many people has been noticeable. Since the Cottonwoods dental clinic has access to a mechanical lift, those Resident’s who could not transfer into a dental chair in a dentist office can be accommodated.”
Since its opening in 2004, the dental clinic at Kelowna’s Gospel Mission has been extremely busy. What started as just 2 nights per week, has now grown into a full time, 5 day a week clinic, plus 2 nights a week, treating a total of 1534 patients.
Current UBC resident, Dr Fardad Moeinvaziri, says “This has been a great experience. Not only do we take care of people in severe pain, but because of their complicated dental problems, I get to treat more diverse issues, more than I’d see in a regular practice. It gives me tremendous satisfaction to do this. It is a great service to the community.”
Shirley Gobel, Director of Dental Services at Kelowna’s Gospel Mission is pleased with the progress of the dental clinic and points out “all of this would not be possible without the compassionate support of our local dental community and generous sponsors.