Comfort Dental Care Day

Since 1985 on Christmas Eve, Comfort Dental hosts Care Day. On this special day, Comfort Dental sees approximately 2,000 needy patients, and gives away approximately $500,000 in free dental services – in one day! Since Care Day’s inception, Comfort Dental has given away over $6 million in dental services to the people of Colorado, plus an additional $2 million in donations to various other charities. On Care Day, patients are helped on a firstcome, first-served basis, and receive a variety of dental services from cleanings to extractions. Comfort Dental’s CEO, Dr. Rick Kushner says, “We provide free dental care around the holidays to help people out -- I can’t think of a better gift than good dental health.” Comfort Dental also proudly supports Mount Saint Vincent, a home and school for children with learning and emotional issues. Comfort Dental also supports the Denver Zoo, and sponsors the Colorado Rockies Junior Starting Line-Up, the Junior Denver Nuggets, the Denver Police Activities League, and the Red Apple School Program. During the holiday season of 2006, Comfort Dental participated with KS107.5 radio to grant a holiday wish to those in need. We received several emails from listeners, many were quite sad and desperate. Comfort Dental dentists responded to these requests, and several people who normally couldn't afford care received good dental health as a holiday gift. Here are a few letters.

Dear Comfort Dental,
Thank you so much for helping us grant these wishes! It is AMAZING what you guys did! We will be thanking you again on our website. I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and God Bless you and your families and employees. You are all so nice and giving and it was a pleasure to work with you!
Kathie J, KS 107.5 Morning Show

Dear Comfort Dental,
My boyfriend wrote in and told you my story. I have diabetes and I have lost one of my teeth and the way it's looking more are gonna fall out too. He had asked you guys to help me get them fixed and you granted my wish!!!! I couldn't have asked for anything else for Christmas. I was slowly loosing my self confidence to where I didn't even want to smile anymore. I just wanted to say Thank You so much. You have made such a difference in my life. I never thought something like this would ever happen to me and now you have proved to me that it can happen!!!! Thanks again so
much for making this possible. I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Great New Years.
Tarevah, Denver, CO

Dear Comfort Dental,
I'm writing to you guys because our Mom gives to us unconditionally. In August, we got evicted, so now we stay in a 1 bdrm apartment with the three of us. There's not a lot of room for us, but it’s a roof over our heads. We are writing because our Mom needs a little bit of help because she's not sure if we are having a x-mas or not. She only gets $400 from the state and maybe $200 for food stamps that really don’t feed us. Today she told us she still owes November rent and all December. We're gonna have to move again, maybe in our van or a homeless shelter. I see my Mom crying and wondering what we're gonna pay and what not to because we don't have a lot, but she says we have each other and that's what matters. Mom is going to school to be a medical assistant, but her car is spewing like a volcano. We are not the best kids in the world, but we are only asking if you could help our Mom out just a little and put a smile on her face so she's not so sad. She had her teeth surgically removed in 1997 and she is toothless and doesn't like to smile. She never goes out.
Anthony, Regina & Catherine, Denver, CO

Hello,
I am emailing with a wish for my older brother Issac. I am hoping to find dental help for him. As a kid he had an accident in which he ran into another kid while playing. My brothers teeth had gotten stuck in the other boys chin!!! He had been taken to a dentist and had a metal bracket placed on his two adult front teeth to prevent them from falling out. My parents were told that they needed to have it removed 6 months later…well unfortunately for my brother, they neglected to do so. Instead my brother had been forced to endure negativity his whole life because his teeth and gums have gotten progressively infected. His self esteem has been low, and his confidence as well. In addition I believe it affects his health. One year Comfort Dental had been providing free dental exams and cleaning for Christmas and at that time we were finally able to have the bracket removed…7 years after that incident. At this current time his teeth are so loose that one of the front teeth have actually loosened again and is basically being held in place by the other as it has begun to cross over. His gums have always bled and caused him pain. He is constantly spitting out blood. I’d truly appreciate you granting this wish and allowing him the opportunity to smile, and have his smile shine as much as his spirit. He is a blessing to all who know him and has maintained such a positive attitude despite the criticism placed upon him due to his appearance. This has affected everything from jobs, to relationships and he has no way of affording dental treatment for himself. I love my brother and can only imagine how hurtful this issue has been for him, he hides the pain well. PLEASE!!!!!! Have it in your heart to bless him this Christmas….it will actually bless him for the rest of his life. He deserves so much, to be able to smile without feeling shame, without feeling pain, this was by no means his fault…why must he suffer any longer.
Brandina, Westminster, CO

(An email follow-up)
Today I completed treatment on Issac. He ended up needing a full upper, lower qseal. He required extraction of 29 teeth as he had SEVERE perio. A significant amount of alveoplasty was done as well. I have a couple follow ups left, but he looks great.
David Yates, Comfort Dental

Note: All the above requests for dental help were answered by Comfort Dental dentists. Although Dr. David Yates is the only Comfort Dental dentist to send a written follow-up, we know all these folks were helped by our dentists.