A healthy smile for BayaniJuan

MANILA, Philippines - Residents of BayaNiJuan sa Southville 7 can now have healthier smiles as Ivoclar Vivadent Inc., a global leader in innovative materials and processes for quality, aesthetic dentistry, granted the community’s wish to have its own dental clinic.

Back in 2009 when the community was launched as a resettlement area housing 5,000 families from Metro Manila who used to live along esteros or who lost their homes to typhoon Ondoy, the only health facility in the community was the SM Wellness Center, a donation of SM Foundation.

Back then, residents still needed to go to Calauan’s rural health unit located outside the community for dental care. Although the services are provided for free, materials such as anesthesia still have to be paid for.

Now that the community has new dental facilities, everything is available to residents for free. It is not just the free service that gives a smile to residents but also the top-of-the-line dental equipment provided by Ivoclar Vivadent, which include a state-of-the-art dental chair, an autoclave for the sterilization of dental equipment, and a dental x-ray machine that not all government dental clinics have. Cabinets in the clinic have also been supplied with medicine, syringes, masks and other dental needs.

Dr. Peter Flores, Ivoclar head of business development for Southeast Asia, shares,“As a dentist, I feel very honored and fulfilled whenever I see my patients smiling. I am very happy to bring back the smile of the people of BayaniJuan.”

Aside from the dental facilities and equipment, Ivoclar Vivadent takes its social responsibility a step further by shouldering the professional fees of the dentist manning the dental clinic.

The dentist, Dr. Amorfina Anda, a resident of BayanNiJuan, will conduct dental consultations, tooth extraction, cleaning, and dental filling three times a week for the community. Dr. Flores said Ivoclar chose a dentist from the community to help provide livelihood to the community.

The partnership of ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation and Ivoclar Vivadent is for two years.

Dr. Flores sees the partnership as a big help for the community that could only yield positive results.

“What we want to achieve is for BayaNiJuan residents to experience the benefits and hopefully improve the condition and oral health of the people,” he said.