Local dentists provide free care

"It was pitched to us as a marketing tool for community outreach," explained Dr. Andrew Ordelheide, who runs MT West Dentist with his wife, Dr. Elizabeth Ordelheide. "We weren't even halfway through our first event when we realized you can't help but truly help people with a program like this."

Dr. Andrew is referring to the annual free dental care day held for the community, known as Dentistry from the Heart. Ordelheide's practice wrapped up its fourth year holding the event on Thursday, only guaranteeing that the first 50 patients would be seen on a first-come-first-serve basis, to get looked over and receive their choice of a cleaning, tooth extraction or filling. With the help of professional dental volunteers from Kalispell, Missoula and Spokane the office was able to cycle through 74 individual patients for 81 sittings. "When a patient finished with their complimentary procedure but still required more dental attention, we encouraged them to register again and hop back in line," shared Dr. Elizabeth Ordelheide, "as long as we had time and space we helped out whoever we could that day."

With help from roughly $3,000 in donations and 30-plus non-professional volunteers like the Plains Woman's Club, Dog Hill Bistro, Ripples Ice Cream, Blackfoot and other community partners, Dr. Elizabeth noted that over $30,000 worth of treatment was given out during the event that greeted waiting patients at 7 a.m. and ran after the scheduled 3:30 p.m. conclusion. "As many volunteers as we always get, we can always use more for this event," said Dr. Elizabeth.

Front desk marketing co-coordinator Kayla Lilja noted that all eight operating rooms were shuffling patients in and out non-stop. Patients were more than thankful for the opportunity to see a dentist – especially not having dental insurance, many had not seen the inside of a dentist's office in years. "I've been seeing the Ordelheide's ever since they opened, and I'd recommend the office to anyone," said patient Nick Giffin from Thompson Falls, who was waiting for a neighbor to finish his free visit before the treated pair made their way home, "they are understanding of us adults and great with kids."

The practice opened in 2011 in a small corner building on Main Street in Plains, before the practice purchased and impressively remodeled the vacant, historical elementary school on the edge of town. The waiting room is warm and welcoming with a "family feel" that the Ordelheide's strive to spread in their professional life with staff and patients. "It really feels like a tight family with those who work here, and our regular patients are a part of that feeling, too," shared Dr. Elizabeth. Care and thought were also put into the layout of the exam rooms, since fear of the dentist is an ailment almost as common as a cavity. "When a patient walks in, the only dental equipment they see is the chair," shared Dr. Andrew, "the tools that can spark negative visual stimulation are tucked behind them out of sight. Once seated, patients enjoy a view out the window as we prepare equipment behind them."

As for the event, the liability would be too much of a risk for small practices to burden. The program is set up so that individual practices can operate for one day under the umbrella of the Dentistry from the Heart non-profit originators in Florida. The organization provides special patient paperwork forms, guidelines and backing to ensure that practices like MT West Dentistry can focus on serving the people in their community without the manpower and outside help that would be needed to execute the event on their own.

Although it goes without saying, both Ordelheides commented separately that the dentistry-duo love the community and hold events like this because it is in line with their core values of service to others. "We just want to give back to this community when we can," shared Dr. Elizabeth. "If all goes well, we'll be hiring another fulltime specialist next year. Of course, rural hirings can be tricky and we'll be looking for someone who wants to be a part of the community, rather than have to entice and convince the candidate to live here."

0892 FREE DENTISTRY DAY saw a boost in professional volunteers this year, such as the expertise lent by Dr. Wilkes and Dr. Johnson of Spokane. This year's Dentistry from the Heart enlisted eight specialists, compared to three last year.

0894 PLAINS WOMANS CLUB (PWC) members have volunteered their time since the start of MT West Dentistry's Dentistry from the Heart event, four years ago. PWC's LeeAnn Hafner was joined by Meloa Rogers from the front desk register the first-come-first-serve patients, and entertain with music and drawings.

0898 CLEANINGS, EXTRACTIONS and fillings were given free of charge during the Dentistry from the Heart event at MT West Dentistry in Plains. This was the first year at their new location for the event – both staff and patients have found the new facility in the old elementary school to be more accommodating and conducive to efficiently serving the community.

0901 DR. ANDREW ORDELHEIDE and Celene Paulsen prep one of the eight exam rooms for a new patient. Thought was put into the layout of the exam rooms with nervous patients in mind. The only dental equipment a patient sees upon entering is the comfy chair with a pleasant view of Plains through the window. All of the tools that could be considered 'intimidating' to skittish patients is behind them once they take a seat in the chair.