National Dental Foundation Update

Over the past 12 months the National Dental Foundation (NDF) has continued to expand its services to the genuine disadvantaged across Australia due to the increasing generous support of Australian Dentists, Hygienists, Therapists and Nurses.

It is a credit to the Australian Dental Industry that so many Practice Owners are prepared to volunteer their practices one day a year for a NDF Dental Rescue Day, where they treat genuinely disadvantaged people in their own communities.

Dental Rescue Days are organised by the NDF State Committees to make it a simple process for practices to do what they do best – treat patients. To select patients the NDF liaises with local charities who work with the homeless, women and children in refuges, street kids and graduates from rehabilitation programmes.

The NDF supplies all the necessary documentation and procedure guidelines and takes the volunteer practices through a simple induction process prior to the designated day to ensure they enjoy a stress free day.

 
Volunteering practice owners can nominate which date suits them best. Where there is a spare surgery other volunteer dentists can be rostered to attend the practice and be part of a Dental Rescue Team which generates a very good experience for all involved.

The following is a list of some of the Charities that have approached the National Dental Foundation for assistance over the past 12 months:- Salvation Army – All States, CrossRoads, Anglicare, United Care, Hanover Welfare Services, Berry Street, Windermere Child and Family Services, Good Sheppard Youth and Family Services, Lighthouse , Mission Australia, Brotherhood of St Lawrence, Family Access Network and Odyssey House

With the valued on going strong support from companies such asf Henry Schien Halas and Colgate, the NDF will continue to provide Australian dentists with a streamlined platform that enables all to give back to their local communities by helping the genuine needy.

Results for 2010 show that the NDF carried out free dental treatment for approximately 8,500 genuinely disadvantaged people across Australia with a treatment value of in excess of $1.5 million. During the year 2011 we expect to easily exceed the $2 million mark. The truly brilliant thing about this program is that it runs at a very low cost because the volunteering dentists use their own facilities. Although the cost is low the results are amazing.

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