A New Facility, Thanks to Volunteers

Share a Smile's new Provo facility is providing free dental care for low-income persons twice a week while giving BYU undergraduates an opportunity to gain volunteer experience.

"It's an opportunity to serve and learn more about dentistry," said Jared Dye, a BYU senior from Las Vegas preparing for dental school.

Dr. Eric Vogel, president of Share a Smile and part-time BYU professor, said in addition to providing free dental care for those in need, one of Share a Smile's primary goals is to bring pre-dental students in and let them feel the joy of serving.

Share a Smile previously operated once a month in the dining area of the Food & Care Coalition, a Provo charity. Vogel said the program is now providing services in its own facility every Tuesday and Friday, thanks to the volunteer corps of 40 Utah Valley dentists, Utah Valley State College dental hygiene students and BYU undergraduates.

In writing letters of recommendation for several of BYU's pre-dental students each year, Vogel said it is hard to differentiate what makes a student great. However, he said when students volunteer, it causes them to stand out from their peers.

"I have been amazed with BYU pre-dental students," said Eileen Bidstrup, Share a Smile treasurer. "However, you don't have to be a pre-dental student to help ... we can make creative skills fit."

If business students want to volunteer on a regular basis, they can help organize summary reports, Bidstrup said.

The organization is also looking for volunteers who can help keep costs down by cleaning up on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings after each of the bi-weekly services. Bidstrup said she hopes local church groups will assist with this need.

Bidstrup said by volunteering for both Share a Smile and the Food & Care Coalition, BYU students have an opportunity to serve those who are less fortunate.

"What we're looking for ... is to determine who is most needy," she said.

To qualify for Share a Smile, a person must live within the poverty bracket as established by the state of Utah. Bidstrup said a person must also have a recommendation from a local dentist or clergy member. Through a referral system, Share a Smile more effectively filters those most in need, she said.

Once a person has qualified for Share a Smile, they must perform four hours of community service prior to receiving dental care.

Bidstrup said each person who qualifies is assigned a mentor who helps him or her to organize their community service and achieve goals. Mentors have no more than two or three clients at a time and are strictly volunteers.

While Share a Smile's free dental services are not yet available to BYU students in need, Bidstrup said they hope to organize a referral system through the BYU Health Center in the future.

Share a Smile's new facility is located at 100 N. 275 West, near the Food & Care Coalition. To find out how to volunteer with Share a Smile, students can visit the Web site at shareasmile.net.

(For comments, e-mail David Johnson at david.shane.johnson@gmail.com)

Copyright Brigham Young University 17 Jan 2006