Patients queue overnight for free dental clinic
Patients started to queue in the middle of the night for a free dental clinic in Idaho Falls.
Patients arrived with blankets and waited for hours outside the Park West dental surgery to ensure they got an appointment at the free clinic operated by dentist, Dr Brett Jacobsen. The event was held as part of the Dentistry from the Heart campaign, which aims to provide the needy with free dental care; the charity operates all over America and has treated thousands of people.
Dr Jacobsen said he was happy to be able to give something back to the community; over the course of the day, over one hundred patients were treated.
The clinic was held to help people who would otherwise go without the treatment they need because of the rising costs associated with dental care. Millions of people across America are struggling to afford dental care and many are avoiding going to the dentist for several months or even years; eventually, they end up with serious oral health problems, which often require complex, expensive treatment. In extreme cases, patients are ending up in emergency departments in excruciating pain.
Patients at the Park West clinic praised the work of the dental team and thanked Dr Jacbosen for giving up his time; many said they would not have been able to get the treatment they needed without the help of the clinic.
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