Henry Schein helps provide dental care to vulnerable people in Broadstairs

Henry Schein have helped vulnerable people in Broadstairs receive vital dental care by supporting Dentaid’s charity dental unit.

The fully mobile unit enables dental surgeries to be taken directly to those in most need. Places they visit include hostels, day centres and night shelters. Through the dental unit, Dentaid volunteers provide emergency treatment for people who find it difficult to access dental care. Once patients enter the dental unit they are offered dental screening, toothbrushing and dietary advice along with a range of dental treatments.

James Salter, Head of Equipment at Henry Schein Dental, volunteered for the day and assisted the team by helping patients seeking dental treatment.

James said: “It was a real pleasure to help Dentaid bring much needed dental care to those who need it in Broadstairs. To support the dental care of local homeless people, I had the responsibility of going through the individual personal health information of patients before submitting this to the dentist in the specialist dental van. This enabled them to efficiently carry out the dental check-up and any treatment required.

“Being able to support the community with such an invaluable health service is part of our corporate social responsibility, and an excellent example of working together to make health happen. I look forward to further opportunities in which I and the wider Henry Schein team can help.”

It cannot be understated how life changing dental care can be for vulnerable people. One of the patients, Sophie, visited the dental unit for work on a front tooth and has been given a reason to smile.

Sophie said: “I came here with a broken front tooth that made me feel really crap about myself. It had been damaged for eight months and was affecting my mental health and self-confidence. It made me feel really ugly and that people think I’m not taking care of myself. My self-confidence had gone and I couldn’t smile at people without putting my hand over my mouth. It just looked like my front tooth was a broken peg.

“The dentist has built up my tooth at the front and now it looks like a proper tooth. It looks so nice. He needs a medal. It’s not just my smile, it’s that he took the time and the care. Before, I couldn’t open my mouth and now I can smile. I’m so happy. I feel bubbly and smiley.

“I was homeless for a long time and staying in a hostel. But now I’ve got my own flat and I love it, it’s a really nice one and it’s my proper home. Next week I’ve got an interview at a restaurant and I’ll feel confident that I can talk to the customers and smile at them.”

Dentaid is a charity that works to improve oral health in the UK and overseas. Dentaid increase access to safe, sustainable dental care. In the UK, Dentaid provides free dental care for homeless and vulnerable people. They also provide dental care in areas where people are struggling to find a dentist and run clinics for refugees and asylum seekers, head and neck cancer patients, veterans, children in areas of social deprivation and victims of domestic violence