DEARBORN — On Saturday, May 30, Contemporary Dentistry hosted its fourth annual free dental service day, with more than 100 locals turning out to receive free cleanings, extractions and fillings.

The event was an opportunity for local residents with no insurance to see an oral hygienist at no cost. Contemporary Dentistry staff and volunteers were on site to take patients on a first come, first served basis. 

Prior to receiving their dental services, every patient had to sign a consent form and receive a check up on their blood pressure and glucose levels. 

The three dentists who operate Contemporary Dentistry— Dr. Nader Bazzi, Dr. Rima Bazzi and Dr. Julie Atoui— collaborated with other local dentists and doctors, including Dr. Mohamed Saad, to lend their services for the day. 

The event also garnered major sponsorships and assistance from Zaman International, a local non-profit charity group, Pizza Kitchen, Paisano’s and Sky Lounge, which provided food and beverages to volunteers and patients during the event.

Oral B, a worldwide leading oral hygiene company, also provided Contemporary Dentistry with free toothbrushes and toothpaste to give to patients after receiving their services. 

Rhonda Mohammad, one of the event coordinators, told The Arab American News that patients were waiting in line at sunrise to receive services. The event took place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“Every year we’ve been seeing more and more people,” said Mohammad. “We had people waiting at 6:30 a.m., even though we started at 8. We had patients that were crying, telling us ‘God bless you.’ They were just so happy that we were doing this.”

Mohammad said the event took months of planning. Contemporary Dentistry had to go through the city to obtain permits and permission for extended parking. Tents were also rented out and placed outside the office for patients to register before receiving treatment. 

To spread the word about the free services, Contemporary Dentistry reached out to local mosques, churches and homeless shelters. 

Many residents from the Arab American and Latin American communities turned out, bringing along family members— some of whom haven’t received a dental check up in years. 

Mohammad said that Contemporary Dentistry’s main objective is to educate patients about the importance of oral hygiene and the impact it makes on overall health. 

While it’s recommended that an individual visits an oral hygienist at least twice a year, many Americans opt out of such services, leading to plaque build up in the mouth which can cause bacteria to form in the arteries. 

There also seems to be a lack of awareness in the local Arab American community on the significance of oral hygiene. 

“Oral health is the gateway to the rest of your body,” said Mohammad. “Everything we do in our office is to make sure patients are aware of the connection between oral health and systemic health.” 

But many Americans remain uninsured and are unable to receive dental care due to costs. Contemporary Dentistry said it offers the free service days for this very reason. 

Rima Bazzi said that the patients in her care were overjoyed with the office’s assistance. 

“They were in disbelief that they could come in and get free dental work,” Bazzi said. “They were so glad to see that there’s people out there that care for them and want to give back and make a positive impact in the community. You can change the world and change the way our community is perceived with just a little smile. It has huge value.”

Nader Bazzi said that Contemporary Dentistry is looking to expand on the free dental service day in the future and he hopes to get more local dental offices on board. 

In September, Contemporary Dentistry will be holding a “Give Kids a Smile” day at its Canton office, aimed at offering free dental services to children. 

“As long as we are here, we are going to keep trying to do this every year,” Nader Bazzi said. “I hope that other offices will follow our lead and do something similar. We want to coordinate with other offices and make a day where each location opens their doors to do the same thing.”