Why Should Dental Offices Serve Their Communities
I have been working in the dental field for seven years now. Over the years, I have come to know our patients, who are part of both the practice and the community.
During a team training session two years ago, we discussed our five-year office plan and goals for the upcoming year. One teammate expressed interest in participating in community outreach.
Considering the agencies we could partner with, we began to identify locations near our office where we could offer our assistance. Upon further reflection, I realized there were numerous opportunities to contribute to our community.
Understanding Our Community
The neighborhood we work in has an average income of under $35,000. Additionally, a significant portion of the community is on state-funded health care plans.
We sit across the street from an elementary school that qualifies for 100% reduced and free lunch. It has the highest percentage of students who are English language learners. The renowned Churchill Downs racetrack is situated just a mile away from us, where many of our patients work.
We reached out to the school across the street and provided backpacks, school supplies, and water bottles before school started. In November, we supplied gloves, hats, and socks for the students.
Most of the families walk to school. We also sent an email to our patients to help with these items, thereby doubling our impact. Our patients also loved helping their community!
We partnered with our local YMCA and cleaned up the trash on the school grounds, so the kids arrived at school on Monday morning without any garbage on the grounds. We also partnered with another local mission to provide blankets for people experiencing homelessness.
These were all easy things that made a significant impact on our community, and they didn’t require too much of our time.
Churchill Downs and the Backside Learning Center
We also partnered with the Backside Learning Center at Churchill Downs. We supply hygiene items for their Christmas baskets each year. The center also offers weekly learning opportunities for families, providing resources such as meals and educational support.
There was an opportunity to share the importance of proper brushing, flossing, and eating a well-balanced meal. Unfortunately, chips and soda are often less expensive than vegetables and protein. These families also did not drink tap water; their water in Mexico was not clean enough to drink, so they bought bottled water instead of using the Louisville tap water, which contains fluoride.
What you see on television on the first Saturday of May, Derby Day, is only a tiny portion of how Churchill Downs operates. There are 1,000 workers, most of whom are immigrants and hold work visas, who work on the backside of the racetrack.
The horses are walked at 6 am, washed and groomed, treated for care, and sometimes trained on the backside of the track. The employees who work on the backside often live above the barns in small living quarters. It’s not the glitz and glamour we see on television; they work very hard for the horse owners and their families.
Future Plans for Dental Care
We are currently screening several of these families to provide them with reduced dental services. I reached out to some of our suppliers and asked if they could donate supplies. Most families are in the U.S. on a work visa. They do not qualify for Kentucky Medicaid, and even if they did, there are not enough providers in our area to meet their needs.
My goal is to develop a membership plan for families who work on the backside of the track. We are in the early stages, but I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to serve these families soon.
The Ripple Effect: Why Community Service Matters
Giving back to our community has been a rewarding experience that has strengthened our team. It has increased our sense of purpose while improving the lives of others.
I am grateful for all the simple things in my life. Most of these simple things, I take for granted.
I invite you to partner with your community as well. Make a difference while having some fun too! There are community organizations that your dental office could partner with to provide various community services.
About the Author
Megan Schulte, MAADOM
Megan Schulte has worked in the dental field for eight years. Her knowledge of people and the industry has grown tremendously over the years. She works alongside her dentist husband in their practice, Schulte Family Dentistry.
Megan graduated from Kentucky Wesleyan College in 2003 with a degree in social work. She has been married to her husband, David, for 18 years, and they share 3 children. She loves to be surrounded by her friends, family, and a good book.
She was inducted as an AADOM Fellow in 2021 and a Master in 2024.
