George Brown College’s WAVE dental clinic to provide veterans with dentures at a reduced cost
Michael Fijolek, IIIrd year student, Denturism Program; Deepak Naik, Program Co-ordinator, Denturism; Veterans Dave and Robert Walsh were present at event. Photo: Renuka Malhotra / The Dialog
A smile can change your life.
That’s what Robert Walsh, service officer for Branch 15 of the Royal Canadian Legion in Brampton, learned when he was working with a veteran who lost all of his front teeth while on duty.
“He was in the turret of an armored vehicle, the driver was young and inexperienced and lurched the vehicle forward and my veteran colleague smashed his face forward and broke all his front teeth,” said Walsh.
“He could never smile because he was ashamed of his smile, because he had nothing but gums.” said Walsh. “Prior to getting his dentures all he could eat was baby-food, like mushed sweet potatoes, he couldn’t eat meat. So dentures changed his life, changed his diet, changed his smile, then it changed his outlook.”
Once the veteran was able to smile and eat what he wanted to it made him feel better and helped him transition into civilian life.
“It helped him in applying for jobs,” said Walsh. “If you look like a guy who won’t smile then your likelihood of getting hired is less than someone who gives you a big smile.”
On Remembrance Day, Nov. 11, a team of highly-trained denturism students at George Brown College (GBC) will help put more smiles on veterans faces as they hold free dental-screening clinics for full or partial dentures or repairs to existing dentures.
The initiative was the brainchild of professor Deepak Naik, co-ordinator for denturism at GBC, who said veterans will be given dentures at a subsidized cost as low as $200 for full dentures and $350 for a partial denture at the WAVE Clinic at George Brown’s Waterfront campus.
According to George Brown’s website, industry partners Dentsply Canada and LHM Dental Studios are helping offset the materials costs.
Michael Fijolek, a third-year denturism student helping Naik said, “dental treatment for anybody is expensive and it is hard to get. Veterans really have trouble getting dental work done.”
For Fijolek it’s important it is to give veterans a place like the school where they will feel more comfortable instead of going to a dentist.
“I am happy to be a part of anything I can do to help the veterans, as they have done so much for us being in the military.” he said. “We all know that a smile is a big part of life and I don’t think we understand how big a smile is until we lose it.”
The denturism team is striving for better participation from veterans and sponsors this year.
“Last year we had four veterans, we are expecting more this time,” said Nair whose goal is that 11 veterans will receive new dentures thanks to the program this year.
“It is excellent,” said David Bawtinheimer, the vice-president of Branch 15, who appreciated the initiative given the limited coverage provided to them by Veterans Affairs Canada.
Walsh also told (The Dialog) that the Royal Canadian Legion offers bursaries and scholarship program for students who are descendants to any Commonwealth nation veteran. This initiative provides $500 in financial assistance to students belonging to a veteran’s family.
To reserve a space at the dental screening clinic, veterans can call the college’s registration line at (416) 415-5000 ext. 5028 by Nov. 9.
