National Free Dentistry Day – September 10, 2022, history, quotes
Free Dentistry Day is observed on a date chosen by a supported dentist and their team who is committed to helping people in the community get free dental care. This year, it takes place on September 10. Dental health is a vital part of a person’s overall health but it is unfortunate that due to financial reasons most people don’t have dental insurance. This day is usually a way for the dentists to give back to their community and it is usually a very busy day for them as their offices are usually swamped with patients waiting for their turn. Several services are offered on that day including, dental cleaning, filling, root canal, extraction, implant placement, and restoration and oral cancer screenings.
HISTORY OF FREE DENTISTRY DAY
Dentistry is one of the oldest forms of medicine known to man and it dates back to 7000 B.C. but It wasn’t until the 1700s that dentistry became a defined profession. Pierre Fauchard who was known as the Father of Modern Dentistry published his book in 1723 titled “The Surgeon Dentist, a Treatise on Teeth.” The book helped to define an extensive system for treating and caring for teeth. He also established the use of dental prostheses and the idea of dental fillings. He was also the one that discovered that tooth decay is caused by acids from sugar.
People have always known the importance of dental hygiene and there is now increasing proof that good dental hygiene contributes significantly to overall well-being. Some oral examinations can help to detect about 100 different medical conditions including oral cancer, diabetes, HIV, and leukemia.
Free Dentistry Day started in 2010 and at that time very few dentists were participants but since then the number of participating dentists has increased in size. Studies have shown that approximately 108 million Americans don’t have dental insurance and so a lot of them lack the proper dental care that they should be getting. It initially started as a means to help people who fall in that category by providing them with dental care at no cost for a whole day.
FREE DENTISTRY DAY TIMELINE
1826
The First Dental School
John Harris starts the world’s first dental school in Ohio.
1840
Baltimore College of Dental Surgery
The first dental college opens.
1873
Mass Production of Toothpaste
Colgate mass produces the first toothpaste.
1878
The Dentist Act
The U.K. passes the Dentist Act.
HOW TO OBSERVE FREE DENTISTRY DAY
Attend to patients
If you are a dentist, the best way to celebrate will be for you to attend to the patients visiting your clinic. Give them a friendly welcome to make them feel comfortable and at ease.
Visit a dental clinic
If you belong to the community where Free Dentistry Day is being celebrated, take advantage of the day by visiting a dental clinic to see a dentist. You shouldn’t let this opportunity pass you by.
Spread awareness
Do your neighbors a favor by telling them the good news so they can benefit from it too. That can be your little way of helping the community.
5 FACTS ABOUT TEETH THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND
It takes time to brush your teeth
An average American spends approximately 38.5 days brushing their teeth throughout their entire life.
Your teeth are unique identifiers
Just like fingerprints, we all have teeth prints and they are unique to each person.
They are very hard
The tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the entire human body.
It is important to brush twice daily
Brushing your teeth twice daily can reduce the risk of tooth decay by 33%.
Teeth can’t self-repair
Even though they are living tissue with blood supply, they can neither heal from injuries nor re-grow.
WHY FREE DENTISTRY DAY IS IMPORTANT
It is an opportunity to give back to the community
Most people need dental care but they cannot afford it. This day will serve as an opportunity to help the community.
Oral hygiene is important
It is important that we take care of our oral health and Free Dentistry Day will help us to do just that at no cost. We can also be assured that we are being attended to by professionals
It Brings everyone together
It is a day that the whole community participates in. The hospital is usually packed with patients from the community waiting to be attended to.
FREE DENTISTRY DAY FAQS
How do I get free or low-cost dental work done?
The best way to get free high-quality dental care is to inquire from your state dental association. Another way is to search for free health clinics. They also offer free or low-cost dental care.
Is it cheaper to get dental work done at a dental school?
It is cheaper to get dental work in a dental school than in a dental office but it will take more time because the dental students are still learning.
Why are dentists so expensive?
Dentists pay a lot of money for rent or mortgage on their office space, salary for office managers, receptionists, taxes, health insurance, supplies, technology, and business insurance.
