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Issue 2
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2017
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How it came together
"Dentists know that access to care is an issue. A lot of dentists do pro bono work. This program lets us target
a patient group that can fall through the cracks in the dental world,” says Dr. Schofield. Doing something
to help underserved populations was always an interest of Dr. Schofield and Dr. Elizabeth Jackson, his wife
and a fellow dentist. The motivating force to develop a program for an underserved population came in
2013 when Dr. Schofield’s brother, critically injured in a scooter accident while working overseas, required
significant rehabilitation and had to navigate the province’s disability support program.
How it works
Motivated patients apply for the program and are evaluated on their dental need and financial constraints.
They pay a nominal fee of $100 per hour for basic dental services and $50 per hour for hygiene services. The
clinic keeps its overhead costs low by operating in space donated to the program within an emergency
dental clinic.
Challenges
Connecting with the target patient group was an initial challenge for the clinic. “We don’t have money for
promoting the program and many people don’t know how the community project works or how to access
it. Literacy can often be a barrier too,” says Dr. Schofield. “We’re trying to build relationships with community
partners like local food banks, churches, Lions and Rotary Clubs—groups where people can recommend our
program to prospective patients or help with the application.”
Another challenge is offsetting dental laboratory fees for patients. The not-for-profit Fundy Dental
Community Association was established as the fundraising arm of the program, with a primary mandate to
fund patients’ lab fees.
Memorable moment
One of the clinic’s first cases involved a person who needed 14 teeth extracted and immediate dentures. The
patient was not in a situation to be able to pay for this treatment in a fee-for-service model. Dr. Schofield uses
this case study to illustrate that the program works: “The patient paid $350 for a $4000 treatment plan, the
community association paid the lab fees, overhead costs were relatively low and dentists did the work for a
lower rate than they’d earn in private practice—and in the end, everyone felt really good about it.”
a
Fundy Dental
Community Project
➊
Wife and husband, Dr. Elizabeth Jackson
and Dr. Scott Schofield, spearhead the
Fundy Dental Community Project (FDCP).
➋
The FDCP launched in 2016with dentists
and teammembers fromthe Annapolis
Valley region.
➌
The FDCP team of dentists:
(l. to r. - standing) Dr. Gráinne O’Malley,
Dr. Schofield, Dr. Jackson, Dr. Leanne
Easson and Dr. Ryan LumTai.
(l. to r. - seated) Dr. Alison Nette and
Dr. April Nason.