Missions

Providing dentistry to far off people in difficult places is challenging because of the considerable equipment needed for field work. Sometimes, the most efficient way to help someone in need is to bring them to us.  The challenge is how to find and screen the most appropriate cases.  We have quietly built a referral network with the volunteers and staff of Saddleback Church.  Our office provides discrete help to the most needy, one smile at a time.

 

There was a time when we did take the show on the road.  We previously focused on two trips, an annual trip with Loma Linda University to New Mexico, and a quarterly trip to Independencia in Mexico.  Security concerns have put the Mexico trips on indefinite hold.  That doesn't diminish the considerable effort and generosity of our volunteer team all those years.  These articles are maintained as an archive of those past trips.

Independencia January 2008 Trip Congratulations to the dental clinic team for their awesome team performance on this January trip. Despite freezing cold temperatures, we saw forty patients, producing over $10,000 in free dentistry. Thanks to Lyn, Ellen, Angie, Linda, and Drs. Fowler and Eli for their help. There are so many other people I need to thank for their help, not the least of which is the tireless Rich Kofron--the real man in charge. Photographs of the trip are on display at Saddlebackpics.com. For a bit less clicking, watch the slideshow. Even more pictures are posted at MSI, our non-profit partner in this ministry.
Just one of the loads of gifts donated to our office - Thank you Thank you to everyone for your overwhelming response.  We received over $2,000 in gifts, toys, school supplies and hygiene items for the children of Independencia.  We now have enough gift boxes to fill an entire full size pickup truck bed--two or three times.  Unfortunately, weather concerns (specifically, flash flooding) have postponed our trip to January 19th.  Rest assured that we will post pictures and/or videos of the children receiving your wonderful gifts.   We welcome people of all ages and backgrounds to join us on our one day mission trips. 

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Rwanda: our toothbrushes and prayers go to Our prayers (and toothbrushes) are headed to Rwanda with a Saddleback PEACE team this week.  In October, at least five of our patients accompanied Pastor Rick Warren and his wife, Kay Warren, on a two week PEACE trip there.  Rwanda is an impoverished country still recovering from a recent genocide.  There's huge dental need: there's only 8 dentists for 8 million people.  Preventative care is crucial in a country with very little access to dental resources.  If your PEACE team would like to bring toothbrushes, toothpaste, or floss to a far off place, our office can help.

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ImageWe've just returned from another wonderful trip to Independencia.  For the first time, I got to ride along to the Pei Pei indian reservation.  

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Firefighters: Thank You Thank you to all the brave men and women of the OC Fire and Sheriff's departments.  "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)  We can never repay you enough for saving Foothill Ranch from these terrible fires.  For the rest of 2007, any firefighter or police officer who comes to our office will receive a free whitening treatment at no charge or further obligation, as our way of beginning to say "Thank You."

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