Jennifer N. Nguyen, D.M.D, F.A.D.I.A

 

DONATED DENTAL SERVICES (DDS)

 

This program is created by The National Foundation of Dentistry For The Handicapped (NFDH). It is a charitable affiliate of the American Dental Association.

SOFTOUCH  DENTAL has provided individuals with special needs who otherwise cannot afford dental treatment.

If you know someone who is in need of "free dental service" provided by SOFTOUCH DENTAL and our specialist team, please contact DDS. 

Dr. Nguyen will get a list of individuals who are in need of the dental service. We will then contact these special patients for an initial consultation.

On the following visit, we will take a prosthodontic record that includes: all necessary X-rays, CT scan, diagnostic cast, intra/extra-oral photographs to make a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. All dental treatments will be provided by Dr. Nguyen and other volunteer dentists with their team using their own time, their own materials, at their own office to provide the complete treatment for the qualified patients.

 

Why are we volunteering our service to these patients?

Because it is the right thing to do.

We feel very fortunate to be able to give back.

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Dr. Nguyen:

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"We get what we give! Like any other Vietnamese Refugees, we have encountered Thailand pirate, barely survived the welcome beating of the Malaysia villagers, my mother came to the US with five kids all under the age of 18 and she was a single mother who did not even speak any English. A Lutheran Church sponsored us. They gave us old clothes to wear, people in the church took a turn to drive us to the grocery store.

There were a Math teacher and an English teacher at the Klamath Union High School offered to adopt me and my sister, because we were so good at mathematic. But that means we will be separated.  My mother wanted to keep all five of us together.

We cannot rely on the free food and clothes from the church forever. With the support of the State, we were on welfare for about 9 months. My mother said we need to learn how to fish.  My mother wanted to get off welfare as soon as possible.

Every time we went grocery shopping, my mother was so embarrassed to use food stamp. She had my youngest brother in line at the check out to use food stamp to pay for foods. The plan was to put the three youngest siblings including myself back to school.

My two oldest sisters attended a 9 months job-corp to get a job as quickly as possible to pay for the apartment. My mother managed to juggle between multiple jobs. Everyone needs to work.

I remember, even after school, we all found some mediocre jobs to help pay with groceries. My brother delivered news paper and painted houses. My sisters worked at Mc Donald and Nursing homes. I used to pull patients' charts and clean instruments and toilet at a medicare dental office after school.

I went to a school where my class mates wrote things like: "Go back to where you belong...We don't want you here!" on my locker. I ran home crying and didn't know why people were so cruel.

Until now, I never told my mother about it. I thought it was too much for her to take.

All I wanted  to fit in.  I just kept on doing things that get me closer to what I wanted.

Ten years later, my oldest sister is an Engineer, my next oldest sister is a CPA, my younger sister is a Manager, my youngest brother is a phD in Computer Science & Engeneering who is a CEO of a software company in Sillicon Valley - California. And me, a dentist, doing what I know best and what I like. I want to give back to those who are less fortunate. It makes me feel good inside to be able to give..." 

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Unlike other community service programs, DDS Doctor Volunteers can donate their services in their own offices instead of Central Treatment Centers. Qualified applicants must be permanently disabled, critically ill, or elderly. For more information, please contact:

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NFDH 1800 15th Street, Suite 100. Denver, Colorado 80202.

Phone: (303) 534-5360 Fax: (303) 534-5290

www.nfdh.org