We provide dental treatment to our community’s most vulnerable populations, including the homeless, undocumented and uninsured. This program aims to serve the needs of adults and particularly seniors, for whom government assistance for oral health care only results in medications for pain and extractions of affected teeth through a visit to a hospital emergency room. Our duty to the public is to help save as many teeth as possible and restore the confidence to smile to as many adults and seniors in this predicament as possible. The program accomplishes these goals through the volunteer work of San Fernando Valley Dental society member dentists and the generous participation of dental materials providers, local area dental laboratories and the donating public. To find out more about our ‘Smiles From the Heart’ program, please Contact Us, Volunteer, or Donate (click button at bottom of the page).
Read more about our outreach with ‘Bridge to Home’
“I feel like if I can get my teeth taken care of, it will make me healthier” – Doug Joslin
Doug Joslin sat in a makeshift dental chair (actually it was a reclining lawn chair) on Saturday as he heard the news. A number of his teeth had become extremely worn down, partly from decay and partly from a habit of grinding his teeth. Several of his teeth were so worn down that their nerves had become exposed. The result was immense pain. “I have trouble eating,” he said. “If it’s too solid, I can’t eat it.”
This was Joslin’s first trip to the Bridge to Home, which on this Saturday was staffed with ‘Smiles From the Heart’ dentists who offered free basic dental services to those who are homeless or who need dental work but could not afford it. Joslin heard of the clinic from a family member and decided to stop in and see if he could get some help. “I feel like if I can get my teeth taken care of, it will make me healthier,” he said.
Help improve our community’s oral health. A small cash donation would be great… Or Start volunteering for 2 hours/month… Or make a small donation of a box of gloves or even a handpiece.