About Us
Our Mission
Our Mission is to provide affordable urgent dental care through volunteer dentists to low-income Torontonians who have nowhere else to turn.
Our Vision
Our Vision is a Toronto where everyone has equal access to oral health care and the opportunity to achieve overall well-being.
Our Goals
Our Goals are to close gaps in access to dental care by providing timely, affordable urgent treatment, reducing oral health inequities, and connecting underserved Torontonians with the care and support they need.
Filling the Gap Dental Outreach is a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing barriers to oral healthcare for underserved communities across Toronto. Rather than operating from a single location, we partner with existing community dental clinics throughout the city to provide affordable urgent dental treatment to individuals who may otherwise have nowhere else to turn.
The people we serve face a range of financial and non-financial barriers to care. This includes individuals without dental benefits, people experiencing homelessness, students, migrant workers, and Canadians who may be unable to access public dental programs.
What makes Filling the Gap Dental Outreach unique is our community-based and collaborative approach. By using existing clinic spaces and working with volunteer dental professionals, we help close gaps in access to care while making effective use of resources already available within the community.
Our work is made possible by dentists and dental hygienists who generously volunteer their time and expertise. We welcome oral health professionals at every stage of their careers who share our commitment to providing compassionate, accessible, and dignified care to Torontonians in need.
Our Impact
in 2025
Emergency Visits
Hours Volunteered
Teeth Restored
Emergency Extractions
Dental Cleanings
Saved Toronto Public Health
Despite the introduction of the Canadian Dental Care Plan, many people still fall through the cracks.
Navigating the complex landscape of public benefits and dental coverage can leave many Torontonians without access to the care they need. We are here to help bridge those gaps and guide individuals toward better oral health.
Our Story
It all started in 2007 with a donated dental chair and a dental assistant in Scarborough, Toronto.
A coalition of community partners had recognized the need to help the growing number of Torontonians who suffer with debilitating tooth pain and infection without having anywhere to turn for dental care due to gaps that exist in the Canadian healthcare system. This joint venture was called the Urban Dental Clinic.
The program expanded in 2017, relocating to a larger space alongside our partners, the Canadian Centre for Refugee and Immigrant Healthcare, and adding three dental chairs. Volunteer dentists and hygienists provided vital services to patients unable to access care through private or government plans.
In 2020, Filling the Gap Dental Outreach was established as a certified charity and a second clinic was opened in partnership with the Rexdale Hub Community Health Centre in the GTA in order to reach more people in need.
Our Team
Our Board
Dr. Amanda Morel, Founder
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.
Paul Wismer, Treasurer
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.
Ara Jeknavorian, Board Secretary
Filling the Gap provides much-needed help to those that do not have easy access to vital dental care. I am honoured to be able to contribute my skills and passion to this team to help with the vision that provides this service. I am a project manager and hold a management position at Oliver Wyman Vector, a Marsh McClennen business.
Dr. Cherry To, Volunteer Dentist
Since graduating as a dentist from Western University in 2006, I have seen how toothaches, broken teeth, and dental infections can severely impact a person’s life; add to that barriers such as not having a regular dentist, financial constraints, taking time off from work to access care and it can leave an individual overwhelmed. My hope is that people of all backgrounds would be able to receive dental care in a timely and effective manner through our work at Filing the Gap. I believe God calls us to love and care for everyone using our gifts and skills, and I am pleased to participate as a volunteer and on the board level to fulfill its mission.
Featured Publications
