{"id":410355,"date":"2024-06-13T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-13T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=410355"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"Clinic-with-a-Heart-providing-free-dental-care-for-past-34-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/Clinic-with-a-Heart-providing-free-dental-care-for-past-34-years\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Clinic with a Heart\u2019 providing free dental care for past 34 years"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Saipan Seventh-day Adventist Clinic has been doing the annual health fair of providing free dental care since 1990, creating a continuous impact to the CNMI communities for the past 34 years.<\/p>\n

Dubbed as \u201cClinic with a Heart,\u201d the program for adults without insurance brought individuals 19 years old and above queueing under the tent set up in front of the SDA Clinic every Sunday of memorial weekend. Patients are eagerly waiting for the 7:30am opening of the clinic doors. They have only one goal\u2014to avail of the free dental services provided to those who do not have dental insurance.<\/p>\n

May 26, 2024 was not an exception. Adult patients came at early dawn. Marites Calica, whose name was first on the list, reported that she arrived before 2am. \u201cI want to be sure to get a guaranteed slot,\u201d Calica said.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s free services offered extraction, filling, prophylaxis (dental cleaning), limited x-ray, oral exam\/cancer screening and dental kits. Fifty-six patients received treatments. Those whose blood pressure considered high received personal guidance on stress management and offered with prayers.<\/p>\n

Levita Manansala appreciated the services she received from SDA Clinic for several years. \u201cThe clinic helps me keep my teeth clean without a cost,\u201d she stated with a grin on her face. Manansala does not have dental insurance for 30 years now. A mother who did not want to publish her name shared the same positive impressions. \u201cI do not have dental insurance so I am here today but I always bring my children to this clinic for their dental health needs,\u201d the mother of three kids said. All her children have insurance plans that cover dental care. \u201cI have great admiration of the quality service the Saipan SDA Clinic offers to their patients,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Sharon Long, registered dental hygienist, finds it gratifying to be able to provide service to patients who have no other means to access treatment. According to Long, the free dental program enables the SDA Clinic \u201cto address patients\u2019 dental needs so they are able to continue their lives with less pain, stress and concerns.\u201d \u201cHelping them to achieve clean and healthy smiles may impact their financial future by increasing their self-confidence which may lead to a new job or a promotion,\u201d Long added.<\/p>\n

SDA Clinic staff who served during the outreach offered their time free but always with a joyful spirt. \u201cIt was truly precious and fulfilling to see the smiles and expressions of gratitude from the patients,\u201d according to Dr. Oh Ock Kwon, general dentist. \u201cI want to help more people,\u201d she added. Such passion is resonated by the student volunteers. \u201cIt was my first time doing something like this but I found that volunteering at the free clinic was fun,\u201d said John Song, an 11th grade student from Marianas High School. \u201cI felt like I was doing something meaningful and I hope I can help next time,\u201d Song added. Robin Maclang echoed the sentiments of his classmate. \u201cThe free clinic was a great way to give back to the community,\u201d Maclang stated. Four other volunteer students who assisted in the free clinic have been coming to the clinic to shadow our dentists after their class hours. Dental shadowing is a service the Clinic gives to the young minds of the community, providing them experience that has a crucial part of their decision to become a dentist someday.<\/p>\n

That Sunday, about 80 individuals waited in line but no one was dismissed empty-handed. Each one who came received an oral kit and a clinic pen, served with cold bottle of water and healthy snack bars, putting a smile of appreciation even to those who were not able to receive the care they sought.<\/p>\n

Held on Saipan twice a year for those without dental insurance (\u201cGive Kids a Smile for children in February and \u201cClinic with a Heart\u201d for adults in May), the Saipan SDA\u2019s free dental outreach programs has extended to Tinian and Rota annually.<\/p>\n

The annual free dental services it offers to the communities is one way to fulfill the Saipan SDA Clinic\u2019s mission to provide excellent dental care, health education, and outreach programs in order to extend the healing ministry of Christ in the CNMI. (PR)<\/em><\/strong><\/em> Jocelyn B. Sonsona, PhD is the office manager of Saipan Seventh-day Adventist Clinic.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

A patient receives health counseling at Saipan Seventh-day Adventist Clinic\u2019s recent Clinic with a Heart.\u201d<\/p>\n

-SDA
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

\u201cClinic with a Heart\u201d patients queue under the tent setup in front of the SDA Clinic every Sunday of memorial weekend.<\/p>\n

-SDA
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s \u201cClinic with a Heart\u201d offered extraction, filling, and prophylaxis (dental cleaning.<\/p>\n

-SDA
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s \u201cClinic with a Heart\u201d also offered limited x-ray, oral exam\/cancer screening, and provided dental kits.<\/p>\n

-SDA
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Student volunteers take instructions.<\/p>\n

-SDA
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

\u201cClinic with a Heart\u201d patients inside the SDA Clinic lobby.<\/p>\n

-SDA
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s \u201cClinic with a Heart\u201d saw 56 patients receive treatments.<\/p>\n

-SDA
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

More Saipan Seventh-day Adventist Clinic staff hard at work<\/p>\n

-SDA
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

SDA Clinic staff who served during the outreach offered their time free but always with a joyful spirt.<\/p>\n

-SDA
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

There were years that SDA Clinic\u2019s dental services even took off as far away as Palau, Pohnpei, and the Philippines.<\/p>\n

-SDA
<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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