As part of its annual meeting in San Antonio this spring, the American Association of Endodontists will provide free root canal treatment to underserved patients in the local community. On April 16, AAE volunteer endodontists and endodontic residents from multiple local dental schools hope to treat more than 60 patients in need of root canals as part of the Association’s second annual Access to Care Project. Endodontists are the dentists who specialize in saving teeth with root canal treatments and other endodontic procedures.
Patients will be prescreened and treated with the generous support of the Henry Schein Dental/Henry Schein Cares and the San Antonio Christian Dental Clinic, which features 16 state-of-the-art operatories. Patients and members of the AAE will be available throughout the day to discuss their stories and share how receiving and providing treatment has affected their lives. More information will be available as the event nears.
The AAE introduced its first Access to Care Project during the 2010 Annual Session in San Diego, Calif., under the leadership of then-President Gerald N. Glickman. Volunteers performed root canals on 54 underserved patients in the local community, providing approximately $85,000 of free endodontic treatment to those who could not otherwise have afforded it. In addition, endodontists from across the country submitted photographs of their own charitable activities, which were compiled into an online photo gallery and video presentation launching the event.
To learn more about the AAE’s Access to Care initiatives, please visit www.aae.org/accesstocare. Media wishing to cover this year’s event should contact AAE Public Relations Coordinator Meredith Friedman at mfriedman@aae.org, or call 312/266-7255, ext. 3021.
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About the American Association of Endodontists
The American Association of Endodontists, headquartered in Chicago, Ill., represents more than 7,200 members worldwide. Endodontics is one of nine dental specialties formally recognized by the American Dental Association. The AAE, founded in 1943, is dedicated to excellence in the art and science of endodontics and to the highest standard of patient care. The Association inspires its members to pursue professional advancement and personal fulfillment through education, research, advocacy, leadership, communication and service.