Some 200 line up for SDA Clinic’s ‘Clinic With a Heart’

Dental services amounting to nearly $18,000 were provided for free by the Saipan Seventh-day Adventist Clinic during its “Clinic With a Heart” event on Sunday.

The amount is expected to increase in the coming weeks since it does not include the vouchers that were given away to those who have yet to be served by the SDA Clinic’s staff, said dental hygienist Lori Serna.

Serna disclosed that about 200 individuals lined up outside the SDA Clinic along Quartermaster Road to avail of the free dental services.

Of the 200 patients, only the first 41 were provided services totaling $17,847. The next 59 were provided vouchers, and they will be asked to come to the clinic in the next two weeks.

The remaining 100 will most likely be called in September or toward the latter part of the year for another free dental clinic that will no longer be open to the rest of the public.

Services provided on Sunday included deep or therapeutic cleanings, gum therapy, fillings, and extractions, among others. SDA Clinic also gave away antibiotics and other medicines.

Serna pointed out that Sunday’s turnout demonstrates the great need for free dental services on the island.

“It really does show that times are changing on Saipan and we’re very fortunate to be able to help those people that really don’t have anywhere else to go. The community supports SDA so we’re able to give back to the community. These are definitely hard times for people,” Serna told Saipan Tribune.

Dr. Kenneth Pierson, SDA clinic director, described the turnout as “overwhelming.” “It would be nice to provide even more services but our capacity is also limited. We’re hoping to make it a communitywide effort in the future,” he added.

Some people were already lined up as early as Saturday night.

Chalan Kiya resident Eva Cuevas was the first in line, camping out outside the clinic at 7pm on Saturday with her 5-year-old daughter Jane Nicole. Both Eva and Jane Nicole received tooth extraction services.

“I wanted to make sure that my daughter and I get a spot,” said Eva Cuevas who has complained of pain in her front teeth for three months.

She said she found out about Clinic With a Heart through a newspaper ad and called the clinic to confirm. “What we did was we brought the essentials—food, water, extra clothes—when we camped outside the clinic. We slept in our car and SDA was gracious enough to let us use their restroom.”

Cuevas praised SDA Clinic for being the only private dental clinic to provide this kind of community service, which is of great help to those who don’t have dental insurance. “I won’t be able to afford extraction for myself and my daughter if I’m going to pay for it out of my own pocket,” she said.

Her daughter, Jane Nicole, said the clinic staff also taught her the importance of taking care of her teeth. “They told me to brush my teeth and they gave me free toothbrush.”

Gina Reyes, 53, said she and two other friends came all the way from Fina Sisu and lined up outside the clinic at midnight. “Clinic With a Heart is a good project because generally, dental services on island are expensive. That’s why many people take advantage of it,” she said.

SDA’s Serna urged other dental clinics to help address the dental health and oral hygiene problem in the community by providing free dental services for a day or a few hours, volunteering their time at SDA during Clinic With a Heart, or by doing presentations in schools and giving hygiene instructions.

“I know these are hard times for everybody but we all need to come together to help the people and help each other,” she said.

Serna thanked all radio stations, church groups, and other organizations that help promote the event.

Clinic With a Heart was started by the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry in the U.S. mainland. Many of the SDA staff are Loma Linda alumni.