Newly Expanded St. Vincent de Paul Dental Clinic Brings Great Expressions to More Detroiters

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. – Oct. 29, 2013 – To help meet the growing demand for affordable dental treatment to those who are underserved and uninsured, St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) recently expanded their dental clinic with the help of Great Expressions Dental Centers (GEDC), as well as other supporters.

The SVdP Detroit dental clinic, located at 3000 Gratiot Avenue, serves more than 200 patients a month and previously had to turn away patients due to their limited chair space. To help accommodate more patients, GEDC provided counsel on the newly-renovated clinic, which created additional space for two new operatories. This will allow the clinic to see up to 400 patients a month depending on volunteer dentists to provide additional services.

The newly expanded dental clinic now boasts two new operators’ outfitted with dental room equipment, one x-ray machine, one pano machine, a renovated reception area and new desks for easier charting abilities.

“The Great Expressions Dental Centers team is dedicated to supporting the communities we serve and that includes assisting those who can’t afford dental care,” said Dr. Vincent Lizzio. “Our partnership with St. Vincent de Paul helps provide critical support to families in need throughout Detroit in numerous ways, including our dentists donating their time to serve patients. We’re honored to be a part of their dental clinic.”

The partnership between GEDC and SVdP began in 2011. To ensure the clinic can provide critical dental services, including preventative care, extractions and fillings, GEDC has donated tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of dental equipment. In addition, GEDC donates dental supplies, personalized scrubs, procedural supplies and offers counsel where needed on an annual basis. GEDC also handles repairs and maintenance on all of the dental equipment at the clinic, ensuring all equipment is up to code.

“We couldn’t be more appreciative of the ongoing support provided by Great Expressions,” said Bill Brazier, Executive Director of St. Vincent de Paul. “Thanks in part to their generous support, we’re able to provide high quality dental treatment to less fortunate adults in and around Detroit.”

The SVdP dental clinic recently celebrated the expansion with GEDC and donors, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and The Carls Foundation. For more information on the clinic, visit www.svdpdetroit.org.

About Great Expressions

For nearly 40 years, Great Expressions Dental Centers (GEDC) has been a leader in preventative dental care, orthodontics and specialty care with local offices in Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Virginia. One of the largest privately owned dental service organizations in the United States, GEDC is consistently recognized for contributions to improving oral health through quality and safety initiatives, affordable dental care services, patient convenience, research and more. For more information, go to www.greatexpressions.com.

About St. Vincent de Paul-Detroit

St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) is one of the oldest charitable organizations in the world. Established in Paris in 1833, SVdP provides critical services to those in need. For over 125 years, St. Vincent de Paul has provided vital services in Southeast Michigan, including food, shelter, medical and dental care, utility assistance, disaster relief and emergency support. Additionally, SVdP operates twelve thrift stores throughout the community and provides outreach programs to the youth and elderly including Camp Ozanam and the Matchan Nutrition Center. The SVdP Dental Clinic provides over 2,400 underinsured individuals with dental care through our Dental Clinic and assists more than 153,000 households annually. To learn more, call 877.STVINCE or visit svdpdetroit.org.

Contact:
Kim Tassie
Lambert, Edwards & Associates
313-309-9523
ktassie@lambert-edwards.com