In Toronto, Dentists and Hygienists are volunteering at a new clinic that offers free dental care. The free health care is for everyone under the age of 25 years old. This article caught my eye because the Dental Foundation of Oregon, my newsletter organization, also specializes in health care specifically for children.
The dental clinic annually treats over 12,000 individuals with anything from gum disease to broken teeth from violence on the street. With the help of fundraisers and donations the dental clinic has brought in over $80,000 for new equipment. They hope to raise at least $200,000 a year to hire a part-time dentist. So far 20 dentists and 30 hygienists have volunteered at the clinic.
Do you think it is necessary for a free dental clinic to raise $200,000 a year alone just to pay a part-time dentist or should they spend that money on new equipment and continue to rely on volunteer work? Honestly, I do not know which way would benefit the children most.
$200,000 sounds a bit outrageous for a part-time dentist, especially when you are saying that the rest are volunteering, but if the dental care is free for those under the age of 25, then I don't see too much of a problem. Either way they are going to have to be professional, which means their equipment will have to keep up to standards. So if the dentist is worth that much, and it means that they will always have a reliable dentist, then I don't see a problem paying that much.
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