Why Volunteer?

Dentists and hygienists at all stages of their careers can benefit from the experience of volunteering with Filling the Gap Dental Outreach.

Benefits of volunteering with Filling the Gap include:

  • A sense of satisfaction and fulfillment in using your valuable skills to help others when they are most in need
  • A great learning environment
  • Exposure to a patient population that has limited access to dental care, resulting in unique dental needs 
  • A great way to network with other colleagues and learn from one another.

Newly qualified dentists and hygienists find our clinic to be a relaxed environment where they can build on their clinical skills.

 

More experienced dentists and hygienists enjoy being able to use the expertise they have learned throughout their careers as a way of giving back. Retired dentists have the opportunity to remain registered with the RCDSO at a reduced fee, provided they commit to working in a volunteer capacity only.

 

Our patients are sincerely grateful for the genuine compassion shown to them by our volunteers. In many cases we are able to provide relief from pain and all of our patients leave with the reassurance that they have somewhere to turn when faced with urgent dental needs in the future.

Read More Collapse

Requirements for Volunteers

  • A current license to practice as a dentist / hygienist in Ontario
  • To be in good standing with the RCDSO / CDHO. To have the appropriate insurance in place to cover their work as a volunteer dentist /hygienist.
  • To be up to date with the latest cross infection control requirements as set out by public health and the RCDSO/ CDHO.
  • To provide a copy of your current RCDSO / CDHO annual practicing certificate.
  • To sign our volunteer agreement form Download
  • After completing a trial session, we ask our volunteers to commit to working a minimum of 4 hours once per month over a 6 month period.

Volunteers are Provided With:

  • All necessary equipment and supplies to perform dental procedures.
  • A Level II certified dental assistant. Hygienists will not be provided with an assistant and will be expected to sterilize their own instruments.
  • Financial screening of all patients prior to booking appointment.
  • Appropriate orientation at both the dental clinic and the Community Health Centre location.
  • A protocol for dentists /hygienists is provided to clarify both the work we provide and the approach we take to best help the patients we see. This is to ensure that all dentists and hygienists adhere to the same guidelines and keep a consistent approach.

“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away”
-William Shakespeare

Locations and Hours

Filling the Gap Scarborough

Address: 4158 Sheppard Ave E, Scarborough, ON M1S 1T3.

Opening hours:

Monday – Friday  9am – 2pm.    

Filling the Gap Rexdale

Address: 21 Panorama Court, Toronto, ON M9V 4E3

Opening hours:

Tuesday and Thursday  4-8pm  Saturdays 9am -1pm

Volunteer

What Our Volunteers Say

Dr. Ji Ho Park

It is a great privilege for me to be a part of this amazing team! As a practicing dentist in the GTA, I have learnt that there are an increasing number of people in our community who struggle to get proper dental care due to financial constraints. As a volunteer dentist, I 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.

Dr. Rachana Chhabra

Volunteering has helped me utilize my professional skills of dentistry for a wider communal impact. FTG has provided me with an opportunity to provide dental care to patients who cannot access private dental treatment. It has also provided me with a better understanding of dental problems that exist in these patients and how we can provide for them. It has been a highly fulfilling experience and I would highly recommend other dentists to volunteer at Filling The Gap

Dr. Jonathan Yu

The best experience I’ve had so far working with Filling The Gap is working with like-minded and passionate individuals helping patients who are having trouble finding affordable dental care. Many of the patients need emergency dental treatment for gum disease and we often do extractions or emergency fillings to relieve them from pain. I find my time with Filling The Gap very satisfying as you can provide immediate relief for patients who usually have financial constraints and very little resources to get any help. The volunteering environment is very friendly, and patients are very appreciative of all the work we do for them.

Dr. Geeta Gautham

The best thing about volunteering with Filling The Gap for me is the sense of fulfilment that comes with giving back to our profession and the people we serve. The skills that we have truly matter to the people who come to the clinic. I find that the biggest needs are basic dental care like pain management, broken teeth, extractions or periodontal therapy. Patients are in pain and distress and have limited financial resources and are unable to find clinics that can help them. So, Filling the Gap truly fills the gap for these people so that they continue with their lives and work and get the treatment they need. I find the experience overall very rewarding and its’s a great release from the busyness that comes from working in a typical dental office. The simplicity and the gratitude from the patients I serve makes my work very meaningful.