Quality Dental Car for Every Patient
WITH LAUREN MCDONOUGH, DMD, VP PRACTICE OWNER DEVELOPMENT AT ASPEN DENTAL
Q: What was unique about Aspen Dental's recent service trip to San Martín Jilotepeque, Guatemala?
A: For me, the biggest takeaway from my time in Guatemala was the people’s love of family and community. Meeting each child, teaching them about oral health and prevention, and treating disease state in a gentle and warm environment will leave me forever changed. At the conclusion of the trip, the municipality of the town presented the group with a beautiful, hand-carved wooden plaque as a gesture of gratitude. It dawned on all of us that our impact in the community may have run deeper than simply caring for these children’s mouths.
Q: What's the biggest takeaway of volunteering for an Overseas Outreach trip?
A: We know that for some communities, access to dental care can be extremely limited or even nonexistent. I’ve heard from many of our Aspen Dental volunteers that giving back, especially to children, is one of the most eye-opening and rewarding experiences of their lives. By educating and caring for the most vulnerable populations abroad, we aim to impact a whole town in its understanding of oral health care as a part of living a healthy life. The dentists I had the honor of working beside in Guatemala were some of the most humble, selfless people I have met. Their altruism certainly didn’t stop when they stepped back on U.S. soil—elements of giving, caring, and providing are embedded in their very being. I suspect that these dentists who selflessly volunteered their time to help those less fortunate have successful practices at home, simply because of the leadership and care they quietly exhibit both with their patients and their dental teams.
Q: How do these trips fit into Aspen Dental's goal of expanding access to care?
A: Whether within the 4 walls of our dental practices or in clinics afar, Aspen Dental teams are striving to provide the best care, and that includes caring for vulnerable populations who have not found typical dental treatment to meet their needs. Aspen Dental team members understand that daily acts of kindness and service contribute to a greater community of healthier, happier patients, and that is exciting and rewarding to be a part of.
