University of Manitoba - Faculty of Dentistry - Centre for Community Oral Health

Celebrating the Faculty’s 50th anniversary and honoring 35 years of community outreach, CCOH hosted a day of free dental care & oral health promotion for inner city residents. On June 11, the Aboriginal Health & Wellness Centre, partnered with CCOH in providing treatment targeted to children, expectant mothers and individuals with diabetes.

During the event, free treatment was provided to treat approximately 300 individuals. Interactive displays featuring the link between oral health and overall systemic health included: Early Childhood Caries, Diabetes, Prenatal-preterm-low birth weight babies and Smoking Cessation.

As part of the event, U of M alumni were honored for their contribution to community outreach in dentistry. The honorees were:

Dr. Peter Cooney, Dr. Art Schwartz, Dr. Olva Odlum, Dr. Phil Poon, Dr. Margot Pilley and
Dr. Henry Redhead

Volunteers and clinicians provided hygiene and restorative care. Volunteers also assisted with patient registration, greeting & directing patients, crowd control, and face painting.

In 2007, team members Mary Berton, Marianne Leskiw, Leona Vos, Dr. Ishmael Bruce, and Dr. Andre Vos from the Centre for Community Oral Health went to Ghana, Africa to provide free dentistry to remote communities.

The above photos include team members being welcomed by Ghanaian Royalty and being presented with traditional African tunics from the Chiefs in Council.

Also depicted are community members and a make-shift clinic using portable equipment set-up at a local school in Komenda, Ghana.

If you have any questions on these or other programs provided by CCOH, please call 789-3457.