From Lubbock Impact Board Member Dr. Holly Wentz Reeves, DDS MSD:
On any given night at Lubbock Impact’s Dental Clinic, many participants eagerly await treatment. Almost all are in pain, some are not able to eat or even sleep, while others have multiple teeth that are decayed and hope for a clean slate to be able to get dentures. These dental issues are not superficial; they can be of great health significance. Oral health is linked to overall systemic health, and untreated dental infections are associated with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Additionally, dental pain associated with badly decayed and broken teeth can lead to an inability to eat, sleep and maintain one’s daily routine.
Recently, one of our volunteer dentists, Dr. Burpo, took care of two patients whose stories stood out. The first patient, Mary, a mother of three, was in so much pain that she had difficulty sleeping and eating. After her evaluation, it was determined that she had an infected upper molar. The tooth was extracted, and Mary was immediately relieved to be out of pain. She was very grateful for the care provided by Dr. Burpo and looked forward to being able to eat dinner the following night on her birthday.
David, the second patient, came to the Dental Clinic hoping for a clean slate to prepare him to receive dentures. As a night shift security guard, David had to wake up early to come for his extraction and then immediately went in for his shift. Each time David came to the clinic, he greeted the volunteers with a big smile and was very patient, knowing it would take time for his multiple extractions. After a few months, David is now close to the completion of all his extractions that are not covered by Medicare. He is excited to be able to get the dentures he needs for his new smile!
Lubbock Impact not only provides a place for our participants to receive much needed dental care but also provides a space for dental professionals to volunteer, collaborate and serve the greater good. Recently, Lubbock Impact has partnered with the Lubbock Drug Court and Joe Arrington’s Stem Cell team for the purpose of further reaching our community. The Lubbock Drug Court allows their participants who need a fresh start the opportunity to receive dental screenings and extractions at Lubbock Impact. The partnership with Joe Arrington’s Stem Cell team helps provide a community of dentists that can perform these screenings for cancer patients that do not have dental insurance or financial resources. The Lubbock Impact Dental Clinic coordinates dental care so that patients needing stem cells can receive these treatments and the subsequent dental clearance.
As of May 2025, an in-office partnership program with Lubbock Impact was established with Dr. Justin Bonner, a Lubbock oral surgeon. Dr. Bonner will open his office once a month to treat Lubbock Impact patients that have been referred for wisdom tooth removal. These patients are screened at Lubbock Impact’s Dental Clinic and then referred according to their needs to Dr. Bonner’s office. He and his staff have been so kind to open their doors and use their skills to serve patients with more difficult extraction needs.
As dental professionals at Lubbock Impact, we have the ability to care for those who are less fortunate and in significant need. The Dental Clinic has four available dental chairs—and plenty of opportunities for dentists to work alongside one another to build relationships and enhance their dental skills while serving this community. We are blessed to have a consistent group of certified dental assistants, pre-dental student volunteers and our wonderful volunteer Dental Clinic Supervisor, Lexi Rodriguez. This great team of volunteers does everything from scheduling patients, obtaining a complete medical history, taking panoramic x-rays, identifying chief concerns, and helping patients feel safe and at ease while they wait for treatment. The atmosphere in the Dental Clinic is always lively with music, laughter, great dental care and overwhelming gratitude from those receiving care.
If you are a dental professional looking to serve, please contact Lubbock Impact’s Clinic Director, Diane Taylor, at diane@lubbockimpact.com.