Dental Clinics provide restorative and orthodontic dental care as well as preventative dental education to disadvantaged infants, children, and teens from around the world. Dental Clinics, held 13 times per year, treat approximately 25-30 children at each Clinic and are held at the offices of local, San Diego dentists who volunteer both their time and their facility.
As with all of Fresh Start Surgical Gifts' services, the Dental Clinics work hand-in-hand with Surgery Weekends and other medical support services - the majority of the patients that are treated at the Dental Clinics also receive reconstructive surgeries and other medical treatments through Fresh Start Surgical Gifts.
Restorative Dental Clinics provide dental hygiene, fillings, and other, more basic, dental care to our patients. The Restorative Clinics also work with the Orthodontic Clinics to ensure that each patient is maintaining proper dental hygiene.
Orthodontic Dental Clinics help correct dentofacial abnormalities for patients with hemifacial microsomia, cleft lip and palate, and other deformities. An orthodontic dental service, such as a gum tissue graft for children, is often the final step in a lengthy process of surgeries and other medical treatments for many of our patients.
All of Fresh Start Surgical Gifts' patients receive education on proper dental hygiene as part of a comprehensive approach to healthcare. Proper cleaning and maintenance of the teeth and surrounding area is especially important for cleft lip and palate patients and we make sure to give these patients special attention. Also, Fresh Start Surgical Gifts provides pamphlets, floss, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and other dental hygiene equipment for all patients.