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1. PDS Marks 40th International Service Trip and $11 Million in Donated Dentistry Around the World
From July 18 – 23, 2023, a group of PDS-supported dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and non-clinical volunteers worked alongside the PDS Foundation Clínica Dental staff. Together, they provided essential care to 102 patients, offering a comprehensive range of treatments valued at $101,651, including fillings, extractions, and root canals. Beyond dental care, the volunteers partnered with the PDS Foundation’s local team and delivered stoves and food to families within the community. This trip marked PDS’ third visit to Guatemala this year, with one more scheduled for September.
Guatemala faces an overwhelming demand for dental care, especially among rural residents who encounter challenges in accessing it. Dental diseases, exacerbated by inadequate education and malnutrition, pose significant health concerns. Recognizing the significant need for oral health care within the country, the PDS Foundation established a cost-free dental clinic in Xenacoj in 2015. The PDS Foundation Clínica Dental also provides Spanish-translated educational resources, bridging the language gap to educate patients about the vital significance of oral health to their overall health.
Since its first international service trip in 2010, PDS-supported clinicians and non-clinical team members have provided a total of $11,148,654 in dental care globally, positively impacting 16,669 patients. This achievement can be attributed to the dedication of over 550 volunteers who have collectively contributed 27,720 hours of their time. These efforts have extended vital assistance to patients in Guatemala, Ethiopia, and Fiji. To learn more about the PDS Foundation’s international service program, please click here.
2. MemorialCare and Pacific Dental Services Announce First Dental-Medical Integrated Office Location
MemorialCare, a nonprofit Southern California integrated delivery system with over 225 care locations, 15,000 employees and affiliated physicians and hospitals, and Pacific Dental Services® (PDS) entered into a joint venture in December 2022. The two organizations recently unveiled the site of their first-of-its-kind co-located dental and medical office. The partners signed a lease in Irvine at University Park shopping center, taking over the former home of Ace Hardware at 18102 Culver Drive in Irvine. The site will open this fall.
MemorialCare Medical Group opened its health center at the site in May and features physicians specializing in family medicine, obstetrics/gynecology and pediatrics. The opening of Culver Smiles Dentistry, a dental practice supported by PDS, will complete the integrated medical and dental office this fall.
Andrea Murchie, MD (left), a primary care physician with MemorialCare Medical Group, and Deepika Dhama, DDS, a general dentist and owner of Culver Smiles Dentistry, a PDS-supported practice.
This is the joint venture’s first of several co-located practices that will open over the next five years, with PDS-supported dental offices located within select MemorialCare Medical Group health centers throughout Orange and Los Angeles counties. The co-located offices will bring together dentists and physicians, working collaboratively to provide patients with integrated health care services. These providers will have access to shared electronic health records on the Epic system to provide seamless coordination of care and offer patients comprehensive, whole-person health.
Decades of clinical research have determined oral health is a critical component to overall health. By integrating oral health care into the primary health care setting, MemorialCare demonstrates its commitment to delivering easily accessible, high-quality care. Simultaneously, PDS’ unwavering dedication to medical-dental integration aligns with the objective of improving health outcomes and reducing annual healthcare expenses and unnecessary hospitalizations. Together, these shared goals drive the collaboration to bring comprehensive and efficient health care solutions to patients.
3. PDS’ Smile Generation Completes its 13th Annual Smile Generation Serve Day
Smile Generation Serve Day is an annual day of service and part of a nationwide campaign of giving that focuses on providing donated dental care to underserved patients. It also includes local service projects such as cleaning up community parks and volunteering at local food banks. Smile Generation-trusted dental offices team up with local organizations and community partners such as After Innocence, Dental Lifeline Network and Modivcare to help bring donated dental care to even more patients in need.
Patients are provided with comprehensive oral health care, including cleanings, exams, X-rays, scaling and root planing, restorations, and extractions. Since its inception in 2011, more than 24,000 patients have received donated dentistry during Smile Generation Serve Day, totaling $46 million in oral health care.
To learn more about Smile Generation Serve Day, click here.
