Opal Goodridge The dental program at Coler/ Goldwater is a critical part of good overall care, says Opal Goodridge. Good dentistry can make it easier for a resident to eat right, or even to use a tongue drive to operate a wheelchair. Recently, Goldwater dentists were able to completely rehabilitate one patient’s mouth – doing gum surgery, root canals, and creating a bridge to replace 12 teeth. “He was able to chew better, so his diet improved,” Goodridge says. “And it made him so much more confident and assured. His whole outlook changed.” Equally important to Goodridge is her role in overseeing the dental residency program at Goldwater, in which newly minted dentists spend 12 months getting hands-on experience in treating patients with special needs. It’s a program with a double benefit, she says: it serves Goldwater patients and helps spread the Goldwater approach beyond the hospital. Opal Goodridge is ColerGoldwater Chief of Dentistry.
35