A Gift of Dentistry will return this year on Friday, December 6, 2024, coordinated by Dr. Richard Marz, owner of Premier Dental Wellness.
One of the greatest needs in our community is low cost dental options. There are many people who simply cannot afford to go to a dentist for cleanings or more serious dental care. The Hearts and Hands Clinic operates a no cost dental clinic year-round, but is limited with the number of patients they can see.
During 2023's Gift of Dentistry, this group blessed more than 100 patients with dental care.
The 2024 Gift of Dentistry will take place at Premier Dental Wellness, 1130 Brampton Avenue in Statesboro, beside McAlister's Deli. Anyone 18 or older that truly needs dental help is eligible for care.
Again this year, Dr. Marz and his associate Dr. Christian Walker have collaborated with Dr. Patel, Dr. Sellers, and Dr. Uribe at East Georgia Oral Surgery to provide as much dentistry help to as many people as possible.
There will be no charge for treatment, and it will consist of one cleaning, one filling, or one extraction. It will be first come, first served. Dr. Marz encourages people needing care to arrive early, as they are only guaranteeing that they will be able to serve the first 60 people in line -- with hopes of serving more.
"We are excited to come together for Gift of Dentistry for another year. Our doctors and staff really enjoy this event and love the opportunity to provide for those in need. There are so many people in our community who live in pain because they can't afford dental treatment. We hope to help these individuals smile and feel better right in time for the holidays," said Dr. Suketu Patel, East Georgia Center for Oral & Facial Surgery.
How It Works
Dr. Marz and his team of volunteers will begin triaging patients by 8:00 a.m. Those needing extractions will be referred to East Georgia Center for Oral and Facial Surgery.
Cleanings, fillings, and x-rays will be completed in Dr. Marz’s office. Premier Dental Wellness, East Georgia Oral Surgery, Hearts and Hands Clinic, OTC, and others are volunteering their time and services to the community for free. This gift could easily exceed $10,000 in FREE dentistry to our community.
They ask that citizens help spread the word and again encourage citizens to arrive at Premier Dental Wellness no later than 8am on Friday, December 6th. They will cut the line off at 12 noon.
Community minded
Dr. Marz understands the large need for dental care in our community, and this will be the sixth year he has led this effort.
“I have been touched by the generosity of this community in so many ways. My patients and our friends and neighbors are so supportive and giving to me and my practice that I wanted to do something as a 'gift' to our community. This 'gift' allows me to give back as small way of saying thanks,” said Dr. Marz.
Dr. Marz is a member of the Statesboro Kiwanis Club, a member of the Bulloch County Animal Shelter Advisory Board, and as a local pilot, flies pets seeking new owners from kill shelters through Pilots and Paws Flights.
