Interfaith Refugee Dental Program Comes to West Michigan

Colette Smiley, DDS, Co-Chair of Kent County Oral Health Coalition, Grand Rapids

West Michigan has a long history of aiding refugees, including welcoming Vietnamese refugees in the 1970s and, more recently, refugees from Afghanistan. The needs of these new Americans are many, from housing to transportation to employment and emotional support. One of their most significant needs is dental care, giving us all a chance to help.

Addressing this issue earlier this year, Christ Church Cranbrook, the Muslim Unity Center, Delta Dental of Michigan, and the Delta Dental Foundation came together to develop the Interfaith Refugee Dental Program (IRDP). This program supports private practice general dentists and dental specialists so they can donate their services to provide critical and needed dental care not covered by insurance or Medicaid. In what is a natural progression, the IRDP is coming to West Michigan, and the IRDP Steering Committee is appealing to you to help grow this effort.

The committee—Revs. Bill Danaher and Manisha Dostert and Drs. Rouzana Hares, Craig Hanson, and Colette Smiley—are developing a list of general dentists and specialists in West Michigan willing to participate in the Interfaith Refugee Dental Program.

Providers in IRDP: • Agree to take one to four new immigrant patients annually. You let us know if you treat children, as many refugees are part of families who fled. • Provide treatment in their own office, with their team, at a time convenient to them. • Examine assigned patients and develop treatment plans as they see fit to restore health. This program aims to restore dental health, which helps these new Americans integrate successfully into their new home. Studies have shown that people missing their front teeth find it more difficult to find employment. Treatment that restores dental health and gives these patients back their ability to smile comfortably is encouraged. • Are reimbursed through IRDP’s dental fund. This reimbursement covers staff time and lab fees fairly and reasonably. • Understand translators and transportation for the patients will be provided.

It is hard to imagine how difficult it must be to be forced to flee for your lives, leave your family and friends behind as well as all your worldly possessions, move to a city and country where you don’t know a soul or speak the language, and be faced with starting over. Refugees’ plight has moved WMDDS to lend help, and we hope you will be moved as well.

If you want to become an IRDP provider or have further questions about the program, please email the committee at interfaithdental@christchurchcranbrook.org or contact WMDDS member Colette Smiley at colettesmiley@gmail.com.