Our Mission
To provide low cost urgent dental care to low income uninsured adults in Toronto.
Filling the Gap Dental Outreach is a new non-profit organization that uses existing community
dental clinics in locations across the city to provide low cost dental treatment to low income
adults. By offering flexible hours, our patients do not have to chose between missing
work/earnings and seeking the care they need. Our goal is to have several clinic locations across the GTA, enabling patients to attend a local
clinic, further facilitating access to care.
Why
The Gap
In Canada we have reached a crisis situation where many people are forced to choose between
essentials such as rent / groceries and having a painful tooth fixed.
These vulnerable members of our community are falling between the cracks.
Whilst the Canadian health-care system is a valuable asset, it falls short of meeting the dental
needs of the working poor.
Our Impact
At each clinic location, Filling the Gap Dental Outreach is able to see over 1000 patients
annually to help address this urgent problem and keep low income Torontonians out of pain.
An analysis of hospital emergency room visits for dental pain in Ontario in 2013 found 58,882
visits at a cost of around $30 million.
Filling the Gap Dental Outreach helps to keep patients with dental pain out of hospital
emergency rooms and physicians offices where they will receive a prescription as a temporary
fix. Our volunteer clinics enable emergency dental patients to receive the specialist care they
need.
Long term goals:
In order to maximize the number of patients we can help, our long term goal is to provide this
service in several more Community Health Centres in other parts of the city, including a
downtown location.
We are looking for a sponsor to partner with us and provide funds for a full-time paid dentist
and assistant to work alongside our volunteer team at these locations.
Our Board
As a practicing dentist in Toronto, I was surprised to discover that low income patients often fall between the cracks when it comes to accessing dental care. In 2012, I joined a team of volunteer dentists at a low cost clinic in Scarborough. Through this experience I was able to see the impact of our dental care on the smiles, confidence and lives of our patients. It became clear to me that the need for this valuable service extends beyond the Scarborough area. This led to the vision for Filling the Gap Dental Outreach, enabling local access to dental care for low income Torontonians across the GTA. My motivation stems from my christian faith and I am excited to see the impact of this service on the lives of those most vulnerable in our city.
It is a great privilege for me to be a part of this amazing team! As a
practicing dentist in the GTA, I have learned that there is an increasing
number of people in our community who struggle to get proper dental care
due to financial constraints. As a volunteer dentist, I hope to share their
burdens by providing appropriate dental services. Whether you are a fellow
volunteer or a patient in need of dental care, I am looking forward to
meeting you all.
Throughout my career, I have seen how impactful dental care can be for
individuals who have barriers accessing this need. From remote villages in
Honduras to low income families close to home, untreated dental issues
can lead to extreme pain, a lack of a confident smile, and eventually loss of
teeth. I've been a practicing dentist in the GTA for several years now
and I'm hoping that by partnering with Filling the Gap Dental Outreach we
can help those individuals in our communities close to home, one smile at a
time.
As an accountant, currently working at Norton McMullen, I am excited to be
able to use my accounting skills to serve on the board of Filling the Gap
Dental Outreach. I have always been passionate about helping
underprivileged and marginalized individuals whom society has a tendency
to neglect or overlook. I am excited to be part of the team at Filling the Gap
Dental Outreach because of this organization’s Christ-like approach to
caring for the practical needs of those in our community.
One of the most troubling things I have observed as a practicing dentist is
when patients are unable to receive the appropriate dental care when they
most need it. Tooth pain can be debilitating and being unable to visit a
dentist due to financial constraints is a problem that needs to be fixed. I
have always wanted to use my skills to provide for those in need and I am
grateful that I will be able to do so with Filling the Gap. I am beyond excited
to be part of this amazing mission and I hope to work as a dedicated
member.
I am pleased to be able to use my corporate and entrepreneurial
experience to contribute to this charity. My belief is that all people should
be able to access basic dental care regardless of race, creed or financial
standing. Filling the Gap Dental Outreach offers a creative way to address
this problem within the GTA.
My inspiration comes from the command of Jesus to ‘love your neighbour
as yourself’.