Music for a Better Smile
Daniel Del-Carpio was going into his senior year of college, and he was also studying for the DAT in addition to regularly volunteering at The Salvation Army Good Samaritan Dental Clinic. And yet, he felt he had the time and opportunity to take on one more project for the good of the dental clinic’s patients. Daniel reached out to the Rochester Academy of Music, Jonathan Mattson and Emily Whitcomb, local music instructors, to see if they and their students would be willing to collaborate with him to hold a concert to raise dollars in support of the Good Samaritan Dental Clinic.
The concert was called “Music for a Better Smile,” and featured Rochester area students performing piano, violin, and vocal solos and duets. While the concert was free, concert attendees were encouraged to make donations in support of the dental clinic. The event raised a total of $1,326.86 dollars.
“I had organized a similar concert during the pandemic in support of another organization,” said Daniel, “But that concert had been virtual. I wanted to do it again, I wanted to do it live, and I wanted to do it in support of the dental clinic.”
Daniel shared that, even coming from a family of healthcare providers, dentistry was the farthest thing from his mind until he started college. “I was taking lots of engineering classes, but it wasn’t something I could see myself doing. I felt the need for a connection with people.”
That’s when Daniel’s parents recommended he consider dentistry, where he could still do something with his hands while also connecting with patients. “I had the opportunity to shadow Dr. Kishore at Stone Barn Dentistry, and I absolutely loved it,” Daniel said, “Dr. Kishore was the one to actually recommend that I consider volunteering at the Good Sam.”
The Good Samaritan Dental Clinic accepts unlicensed volunteers to assist licensed dental professionals from reception, to intake, to sterilizing equipment and assisting in other ways during procedures. Since the clinic primarily provides tooth extractions, this is an opportunity for students interested in dentistry to gain clinic experience ahead of dental school.
“It’s wonderful work, the things I’m able to do even as an unlicensed volunteer,” said Daniel, “Especially for people without insurance, getting them out of dental pain. I can’t put into words how amazing it is. It leaves me with butterflies in my stomach.”
When asked what he would share with others considering volunteering at the clinic, Daniel answered, “Go once, and see not just the amount of patients receiving care at the dental clinic, but the way they do so. Many patients come in having previously felt unheard and stressed, and everyone in the dental clinic comes together to make sure patients feel heard. It makes me want to come back every time.
“To a regular person walking by, to know that it’s [the dental clinic] is there, know the work done there is invaluable and that it’s really something that needs community support.”
The leadership and staff of The Salvation Army would like to sincerely thank Daniel for organizing such a wonderful concert in support of the dental clinic, and for his time spent volunteering and advocating for our dental patients over the past three years.
To learn more about the Good Samaritan Dental Clinic, as a patient or prospective volunteer, please visit www.rochestersa.org.