Georgia Tech and Ben Massell Dental Clinic Join to Bring State-of-the-Art Dental Care to Underserved Populations
The Ben Massell Dental Clinic and the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Dental Technology Center (DenTeC) are combining forces to bring state-of-the-art dental care to those who can least afford it.
“This is an important alliance that will provide patients and dentists the opportunity to use some of the most innovative technology in the field of dentistry today – and tomorrow,” said Gary Miller, CEO of Jewish Family & Career Services, which operates The Ben Massell Dental Clinic. “It also marks a new partnership between our volunteer dentists, who care about bringing quality service to low-income individuals, and the scientists and engineers who are dedicated to inventing and developing the technical innovations that will be used in the future.”
“We intend to apply our unique engineering and research experience to the special needs of dentists and their patients,” said Jennifer McDonald, DenTeC associate director. “Georgia Tech engineers and scientists will work closely with the Clinic’s incredible volunteer dentists and patients to understand their needs, both from a clinical and personal perspective. And, that experience will result in the development of cutting-edge dental technologies, higher quality/more efficient patient care, and improved education for dentists and their patients.”
The Ben Massell Dental Clinic is the only comprehensive volunteer dental clinic in the metro-Atlanta area. Its more than 90 volunteer dentists treated more than 6,000 individuals in 2006 and performed more than 14,500 dental procedures, providing hygiene training and prevention education to every patient. The Clinic is currently in a capital campaign to raise $3.85 million to purchase and equip a 7,900-square foot building on 14th Street. The new building will feature 15 operatories, two hygiene rooms, an enlarged laboratory, x-ray room and sterilization area. With the new building, the clinic expects to increase the number of patients treated by 30 percent by its third year of operation. The new Clinic is expected to open in early 2008.
The Ben Massell Dental Clinic’s beginnings trace back to 1911 when Morris Hirsch established an outpatient medical center to provide services for those who couldn’t afford medical care. A dental program was added in 1929. Currently, the Clinic, named for local developer and philanthropist Ben Massell, is housed in a 2,000-square-foot building on 7th Street.
“Our mission hasn’t changed over the decades,” said David Zelby D.M.D., chief of staff for The Ben Massell Dental Clinic. “Our dentists and staff are dedicated to providing the best possible care each day to our patients. This alliance with DenTeC gives us an incredible opportunity to continue that mission and take it to a whole new level in terms of the equipment, technology and services we can provide.”