Gracious Giving
7to7 Dental Provides Day of Service
By Amy Morgan
The professionals at 7to7 Dental & Orthodontics believe in sharing their love with the community that’s supported them for the past 15 years. Sometimes the best way to show you care is to give someone a gift they desperately need. With budgets stretched thin, many cannot afford the dental care that will keep them healthy. 7to7 Dental recognized this problem ten years ago and determined to devote an entire day in February to provide free dental care for those who would otherwise not be able to afford it.
“Over the years we would treat patients with needs as the ability rose, but it felt catch as catch can. We decided it would be good to set aside a day to serve in a more mindful way,” said practice Co-Owner Tiffany Winburn, D.M.D.
This will be the 10th year 7to7 Dental’s now 262 doctors and staff will offer Dental Hope. Saturday, February 18, the first 175 adults in line by 10 a.m. at the practice’s Northwest location at 10103 W. Loop 1604 are guaranteed to receive free cleanings, fillings and/or extractions, depending on their needs, said 7to7 Dental’s Director of Marketing Travis DeZuba.
People will begin lining up before dawn to ensure their slot for treatment. Many depend on the day for their cleaning of the year. By the end of the day, 7to7 Dental’s professionals will perform hundreds of dental procedures on patients continually rotating through the office’s 23 chairs.
“It’s our favorite day each year as we help those without access to dental care be able to smile again,” Travis said. “Most simply cannot afford the extractions or fillings needed to get them out of pain.”
“It is pretty much an all-hands-on-deck event,” Dr. Winburn confirmed. “Our dentists and hygienists are seeing as many patients as they can, non-clinical staff help process the paperwork, direct traffic and change rooms. Friends and family stop by. All told – we’ll have more than 200 people volunteering that day.”
7to7 Dental has recruited professional peers, dental supply companies and local businesses to donate goods and time to allow them to give every patient what they need. Past sponsors have included Darby Dental, American Eagle Instruments, Nestle, iHeart Radio, Colgate, Bill Miller BBQ, ASC Promotions, Monarch Trophy Studio, Summer Moon Coffee, and Little Caesars. High Def Communications and DJ Stash spin the tunes to make sure everyone in line is having a good time while they wait, Travis added.
Travis remembers one patient who literally slept in her car in front of the office all night several years ago so she could be the first in line for Dental Hope. She had been in great pain with a toothache, but she couldn’t afford the dental treatment. She ended up needing an extraction, which relieved the problem. She was so pleased to be out of pain that she hugged everyone repeatedly as she left, thanking them again and again for helping her.
Dental Hope could not take place without the help of partners and supporters from the community, Travis said. Check 7to7 Dental’s website and social media pages to find shout-outs and thanks to all whose contributions make Dental Hope possible.
“Dental Hope strikes a chord in our hearts,” Dr. Winburn said. “We love what we do and love helping people. The thing I like best about Dental Hope is that it takes away all the barriers like finances and paperwork that are the most frustrating and allows us to just help people.”
The professionals at 7to7 Dental & Orthodontics care about your oral health and are available 7 a.m.- 7 p.m., seven days a week, for dentistry for the whole family and emergencies. 7to7 Dental is a local business grown in 15 years from the practice of one dentist and six staff, which now employs 262 San Antonio community members. Co-Owners Dr. Winburn and Justin Coke live in Stone Oak with their families and are part of the community.
