By Ty Walker
The Mountain Times
Mark your calendars for Sunday Oct. 6 for the annual free dental clinic at Sandy Seventh-day Adventist Church. Starting at 7 a.m., it’s first-come, first-served. No insurance is necessary. And there will be a craft program, for ages 4-12, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sandy Adventist Church will transform its 3,000-square-foot fellowship hall into a mobile dental clinic for the day. The clinic is offering free dental exams and X-rays, fillings, and extractions by walk-ins only. Flippers, cleanings and crowns will be by appointment only. (Flippers are partial dentures with up to three front teeth.)
In 2023, 142 patients received free dental service from local dentists, including three from Sandy, said clinic organizer Tami Beaty, who started the event with husband Jon Beaty in 2018. Last year, Tami saw firsthand many patients undergo flipper procedures. The patients were all smiles, brimming with self-confidence after getting their treatments.
“It just transformed their lives,” Tami said. “They could be proud of their smile. They don’t have to feel like they are different.”
Tami and Jon got the idea for a free dental clinic when they volunteered at a large clinic in another state. They saw such a huge demand for dental services at that mega clinic they thought, why not bring that kind of service to their local community?
“It was our vision,” Tami said. “We wanted to do more for our community. We wanted to show them the love of Jesus. We are here for them. Our church has really tried to do that.”
There’s such a high demand for local dental care, Tami said that last year the clinic had to turn away patients because they ran out of time. This year, they’re preparing for another large turnout. Free lunch is offered during the lunch hour. The afternoon can be a slower time to get in, so if residents are busy early on, show up when you can.
The husband and wife team share a passion for helping people in need. Jon has a degree in social work and leads depression and anxiety ministries in the church. Tami has a background working in medical offices and has seen first hand the needs of the community. Jon, Tami and staff look forward to serving as many community members as possible!
The Sandy Adventist Church offers several ministries, including a monthly clothing exchange, Oct. 6 this month, the same day as the free dental clinic. They also offer a grief recovery program and a depression and anxiety recovery program. Other popular services include free vision clinics and mammography clinics. The next mammography clinic is Nov. 14, by appointment only by calling Tami at 503-698-4622. Also, a plant-based cooking class is set for Oct. 13 at the church.
Sandy Adventist Church is located at 18575 SE Langensand Road. For more information about the dental clinic, visit sandyadventistchurch.org/events.