Dentists Help Low-income Adults With Charity Grant

A grant from the New Zealand Dental Association (NZDA)
and Aotearoa Charity Hospital (ARCH) has helped transform
the lives of some low-income patients.

Mt Albert
dentist Dr Riddhi Patel has helped 16 patients so far with
dental treatment that they could not ordinarily access
thanks to one of five $10,000 ARCH grants.

“Our area
has benefited greatly from this grant. Many of the patients
that we are seeing are low-income or no-income adults, often
holding a community card or are on benefits.

“This
grant has allowed us to help16 low-income adults receive 88
dental treatments and ran until 5 December,” said Dr
Patel.

“It is immensely satisfying to help patients
who require much needed dental care. We are very grateful to
the New Zealand Dental Association and Aotearoa Charity
Hospital for awarding this grant.”

Patient Jidapa
Waites was pleased with her clean and restoration
work.

“I needed this dental treatment, it’s not
usually something I could afford. I am pleased this grant
provided a cleaning for my teeth and some required
fillings,” said Jidapa Waites.

The funds covered
dental materials, a dental assistant, and running costs of
instruments and equipment. Dr Patel’s time, as with all
dentists receiving this grant, was provided
voluntarily.

Notes to editors:

Grants funds
criteria:

Funded treatment for current community
service card holders or low-income adults

All
treatment must be for restorative purposes not
cosmetic

Funds must be utilised to treat multiple high
needs adults

Practitioners to provide treatment on
voluntary basis only

ARCH Grants total
$50,000

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