Dentistry From The Heart at Picton Dental Centre

Jan 25, 2014 by Danny in Event

It’s funny how sometimes things just seem to come together. A few weeks ago, I was commenting to my wife how I really should get out and do some volunteer work around the community. A few days later I received a message from a friend about an event called Dentistry From The Heart being held at the Picton Dental Centre. They were looking for a photographer to cover their event and produce a short video clip to document their day. I looked into the event and quickly realized what an amazing thing it was that was happening, so I jumped at the opportunity to help.

The Whole Gang

Admittedly, I can’t say I particularly enjoy going to the dentist, or hospitals, or going to any type of medical facility for matter. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that usually if I’m there it involves needles (which I hate!), stitches, drills or staples!

I know, I know, nobody really likes going to the dentist (except my wife who LOVES getting her teeth cleaned), but we all have to go at some point. Except some people can’t go even if they really need to, because they are uninsured and just can’t afford to pay for services which many of us take for granted like cleanings, fillings or extractions.

Registration Man!

That’s where Dentistry From The Heart comes in. These volunteers started in the wee hours of the morning registering patients and then doing cleanings, fillings and extractions for 81 patients! To say it was busy is a bit of an understatement, but everywhere you looked there were people smiling and laughing, and the only complaint I heard was my own (sorry but my back was killing me!).

Some Of The Happy Patients

Close your eyes for a second and envision yourself sitting in the waiting room at your dentist to get a tooth pulled, sitting next to a bunch of strangers also getting similar procedures done. I’m thinking anxious faces, nervously buried in a copy of some old copy of GQ dreading their name being called. But that was certainly not the scene on that day. I’ve never seen so many smiles in a doctors waiting room! And when I asked if I could take photos, people were more than happy to be oblige. This kind gentleman even took the time to pose for me. He thought pretending to sleep would be hilarious… and it is! Well, maybe you had to be there…

ZZZZ ZZZZZZ… snort… ZZZZZZZ

I can’t say it enough: This was a great event. It was really amazing to see so many people getting the help they needed and the volunteers did an outstanding job. I’m so glad I was able to be a small part of it as the self-proclaimed “guy with camera who was always in the way”. Those are my words, not theirs ☺. They were awesome about me stumbling around to get photos and I’m happy I managed to not break something!

And remember to check the Dentistry From The Heart website for more info and other events in the area. This is a yearly event and there is another one being held in Trenton in June.