TORONTO, Jan. 31, 2014 /CNW/ - To honour the spirit of Valentine's Day, on February 8 registered dental hygienists across the province will provide oral care services to the public at no cost.
For the sixth consecutive year, the Gift From the Heart campaign offers a way for dental hygienists to reach out in their community and help members of the public who may be financially unable to receive oral care or have difficulty accessing dental hygiene services.
"Because dental hygienists can work independently outside the traditional dental office, the event also helps to build awareness about the public's right to choose their health-care provider and the importance of preventing oral disease for a healthy mouth and healthy body," said Bev Woods, founder of the project.
Last year, dental hygienists in Ontario from all practice settings, including those who operate their own businesses, treated approximately 800 clients during the one-day volunteer event. "Our annual Gift From the Heart keeps growing. This year we expect to help more people so that we can truly make a difference through treatment and public education about the importance of good oral health," adds Ms Woods.
Since September 2007 when legislation allowed dental hygienists to provide their services outside the dental office, more than 250 independent dental hygiene practices — stand-alone clinics and mobile services — have opened across Ontario.
"This legislation change in 2007 increased access to affordable and comprehensive dental hygiene care," said Heidi Linton, President of the Ontario Dental Hygienists' Association. "Gift From the Heart goes one step further to make sure more people know about dental hygiene's integral role in the delivery of quality oral care in Ontario."
Dental hygiene is a regulated health-care profession with more than 13,000 practising dental hygienists in Ontario, making it the third largest of the health-care professions in the province. The College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario, the profession's regulatory body, sets policies and standards to ensure the public receives safe and ongoing comprehensive oral care.
| ANCASTER | ||
| Ontario Dental Education Institution | 905-304-4706 | www.on-dei.com |
| AYR | ||
| O'Neill's Dental Hygiene Clinic/M O'Neill | 519-394-3000 | |
| BARRIE | ||
| Simcoe Dental Hygiene | ||
| BARRY'S BAY | ||
| Barry's Bay Dental Hygiene Clinic/M Rutledge | 613-756-6884 | www.bbdhc.ca |
| BEAMSVILLE | ||
| Gentle Hands Dental Hygiene Care/W Andrews | 905-563-6080 | www.gentlehandsdental.ca |
| BELLEVILLE | ||
| Maxwell College Dental Clinic/ B Woods | 613-962-7846 | www.giftfromtheheart.ca |
| BOTHWELL | ||
| CMS Dental Hygiene Services/ C McGrail | 519-695-5054 | www.cmsdentalhygieneservices.com |
| BOURGE | ||
| Mobile Dental Hygiene Services | ||
| BOWMANVILLE | ||
| Keep Smiling Dental Hygiene | ||
| BRAMPTON | ||
| Healthy Smile Dental Hygiene | ||
| Walk-in Dental Hygiene Care /V Garas | 905-454-5777 | www.walkindentalh.com |
| BRANTFORD | ||
| Hot Smiles Dental Hygiene | ||
| BURLINGTON | ||
| Burlington Dental Hygiene /L Anderson | 905-466-1511 | |
| CARP | ||
| Rural Roots Dental Hygiene Services/P McComb | 613-323-6487 | www.RuralRootsDHS.com |
| CHATHAM | ||
| Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit/ L Pepper | 519-355-1071 | www.kpublichealth.com |
| CHELMSFORD | ||
| Northern Smiles Dental Hygiene Clinic/ N Roussel | 705-855-1515 | www.northernsmilesdh.ca |
| DEEP RIVER | ||
| One to One Dental Hygiene | ||
| DUNDAS | ||
| Dundas Dental Hygiene & Wellness Studio/ L Knapp | 905-719-5699 | www.ddhsmile.com |
| Smile Clinic/ L Quest | 905-928-5463 | |
| DUNNVILLE | ||
| Precious Smiles Dental Hygiene/ V Lance | 905-765-4314 | |
| ETOBICOKE | ||
| Dental Hygiene Group/ C Allain | 416-799-8344 | www.dentalhygienegroup.ca |
| ERIN | ||
| Pearly Whites | ||
| GARSON | ||
| Absolute Dental Hygiene Care | ||
| GEORGETOWN | ||
| TLC Dental Hygiene/ L Castrucci | 905-877-1300 | tlcdentalhygiene.com |
| GODERICH | ||
| Gentle Dental Hygiene Care | ||
| HAMILTON | ||
| Gleam Smile Centre/ J DiNardo | 905-387-6453 | www.gleamsmile.ca |
| Hamilton Smiles Dental Hygiene Clinic/ S Stumpo | 905-575-1234 | www.hamiltonsmiles.ca |
| HEARST | ||
| DentSpa Dental Hygiene Clinic | ||
| INNISFIL | ||
| Brush-up Hygiene | ||
| KEMPTVILLE | ||
| Hygiene Now | ||
| Regional Dental Hygiene | ||
| KINCARDINE | ||
| Kincardine Dental Hygiene | ||
| KING CITY | ||
| Woodland Dental Hygiene | ||
| KINGSTON | ||
| Roving Dental Hygiene/ C McQueen | 613-770-3801 | www.mobilehygiene.ca |
| Trillium College | ||
| KITCHENER | ||
| Champion Dental Hygiene/ B Champion | 519-575-1455 | www.championdentalhygiene.com |
| Nancy Hall & Associates Dental Hygiene Care/ L Nickie | 519-744-5200 | www.nancy-halldentalhygiene.ca |
| LINDSAY | ||
| Dental Hygiene Care By Marnie | ||
| LONDON | ||
| Angel's Touch Dental Hygiene | ||
| MIDLAND | ||
| Dental Hygiene with Roma | 705-526-1358 | www.dentalhygienewithroma.com |
| Genesis Dental Hygiene Care | ||
| MILTON | ||
| MillRidge Family Dental Care/ B Roberts | 905-876-9047 | |
| NEPEAN | ||
| The Perfect Smile/ R Vaillant | 613-898-2292 | www.theperfectsmile.ca |
| NOELVILLE | ||
| Jewels Dental Hygiene Clinic/ J Raymond | 705-898-3220 | |
| NORTH BAY | ||
| Brilliance Dental Hygiene/ A Nadeau | 705-477-1744 | brilliancedentalhygiene.com |
| Hilltop Dental Hygiene Clinic/ C Pannell | 705-478-8584 | hilltopdentalhygieneclinic.com |
| NORTH YORK | ||
| Dental-x Smile Centres/ A Deti | 416-255-2555 | www.dental-xsmilecentres.com |
| OAKVILLE | ||
| JW Dental Hygiene | ||
| OTTAWA | ||
| Amy Pitre RDH | ||
| Confident Smiles Dental Hygiene | ||
| Hintonburg Dental Hygiene | ||
| Muriel Laughton Dental Hygiene / M Laughton | 613-722-7108 | www.muriellaughton-dentalhygiene.ca |
| PEMBROKE | ||
| Pearly Whites Mobile Dental Hygiene Services/ L Borne | 613-281-0848 | www.pearlywhitesmobile.ca |
| PENETANGUISHENE | ||
| White Rolling Sands Dental Hygiene | ||
| PICKERING | ||
| Healthy Smiles Dental Hygiene Care | ||
| PORT HOPE | ||
| Fresh Dental Hygiene Care | ||
| Port Hope Community Health Centre/ M Ito | 905-885-2626 | |
| RICHMOND HILL | ||
| Richmond Hill Dental Hygiene | ||
| York Mobile Dental Hygiene/ C Gallo | 416-566-5642 | www.yorkmobile.ca |
| RIDGEWAY | ||
| Choice Independent Dental Hygiene | ||
| ROCKLAND | ||
| Rockland Dental Hygiene | ||
| SMITHS FALLS | ||
| Smile Sensations | ||
| STRATFORD | ||
| Perth Dental Hygiene/ C Embree | 519-508-5800 | www.smileperth.ca |
| SUDBURY | ||
| Cambrian College Dental Clinic | 705-566-8101x7439 | |
| First Impressions Dental Services | ||
| THUNDER BAY | ||
| Dental Hygiene Smiles/ G Marion | 807-286-1133 | www.tbaysmiles.com |
| Natural Smiles The Dental Hygiene Boutique/ M Cassim | 807-285-3493 | www.naturalsmilesboutique.com |
| TORONTO | ||
| CamCare Oral Health | ||
| Integrative Health Group/ S McKenzie | 416-492-6725 | www.mckenzieclinics.com |
| Just Smile Dental Hygiene Care/ R Macip | 416-951-3567 | |
| VAL CARON | ||
| Valley East Dental Hygiene Clinic/ N Bertrand | 705-588-2222 | |
| WASAGA BEACH | ||
| The Hygienics Studio | ||
| WATERLOO | ||
| Uptown Dental Hygiene/ C Beaulieu | 519-954-9092 | www.uptowndentalhygiene.com |
Image with caption: "Ontario Dental Hygienists' Association Logo (CNW Group/Ontario Dental Hygienists' Association)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140131_C6692_PHOTO_EN_36084.jpg
SOURCE: Ontario Dental Hygienists' Association
Bev Woods, RRDH
www.giftfromtheheart.ca
Margaret Carter, Executive Director
Ontario Dental Hygienists' Association
800.315.6342 [email protected]
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