December 16, 2010

UBC Dentistry and the First United Church—a long standing institution in the neighbourhood striving to meet unmet health needs of residents—have partnered to operate a one-chair dental clinic in the new year.

First United Church, Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC.

With over 60 percent of the local population experiencing oral/facial pain, the Downtown Eastside is a community in need of more oral health programs.

UBC Dentistry will begin to rotate, first, general practice residents, then, dental and dental hygiene students, through the clinic located at the church. Treatment for area residents—many of whom are homeless—will focus on pain management and infection control. The pilot program will also assess the community’s needs for dental care in the long term.

Many area residents suffer serious oral dental pain, notes Dr. Christopher Zed, associate dean and that, “UBC dentistry residents and students are very familiar with treating under-served and under-accessed communities.”

Called the UBC Dentistry First United Oral Health Program, the dental clinic is funded by an anonymous Vancouver resident and operates one day per week.

Read, listen and watch more detailed news coverage about the UBC Dentistry First United Oral Health Program

• December 16, 2010 | Vancouver Sun
  Needy to get a free dental clinic
  First United Church and the UBC School of Dentistry have created a dental clinic in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. The one-chair clinic will focus on pain management and infection control. read more>>
• December 16, 2010 | News1130
  A dental clinic for the needy opens on the Downtown Eastside
  People living in the Downtown Eastside now have a place to go for free dental care. UBC dentists have opened up a one-chair clinic at First United Church that will be open one day a week. read more>>
• December 16, 2010 | Health Headlines—GlobalTV
  A new pilot program on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside will provide free dental care for the city’s less fortunate
  A new one-chair dental clinic at Hastings and Gore is a partnership between the First United Church and UBC Dentistry. watch>>
• December 16, 2010 | CTV News
  Tooth fairy brings a smile to Downtown Eastside
  In a postal code where many residents haven’t seen a dentist in decades, a new pilot dentistry program will provide a lifeline to primary care for Vancouver’s neediest citizens.