Chicago Dentist Volunteers to Treat Holocaust Survivors Pro Bono

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwired - May 11, 2016) -   Blending his passion for improving patients' oral health and giving back to those in need, Chicago cosmetic dentist Sheldon Seidman, DDS recently had the opportunity to help two Holocaust survivors get the dental care they needed -- free of charge. This was organized through the Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity's pilot program, which launched in 2015 to help Holocaust survivors get critical dental care they often cannot afford.

The program has expanded to nine cities over the past year, including Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Boston, the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area, Detroit, Chicago, Seattle, as well as Montreal and Toronto. Alpha Omega collaborates with various Jewish agencies to identify these individuals in need and matches them with a local dental professional.

Dr. Seidman and his team at Smile Chicago had the privilege of meeting with two Holocaust survivors living in the Chicago area. For one of the patients, he performed an extraction and provided a denture. The second patient was fitted for a dental bridge. Dr. Seidman recounts both experiences, saying they were both extremely appreciative. Despite the patients speaking primarily Russian, he says he was able to use a computer translator as well as a massage therapist who was fluent in Russian to communicate with the patients.

Following one of the individual's visits, Dr. Seidman received a note of gratitude: "I cannot tell you how thankful I am to this doctor. My previous experiences with dentists associated with pain and lots of money spent...In Dr. Seidman's hands I felt no pain -- he has 'golden hands' (Russian saying for hands that can do miracles). I also wanted to thank the whole office -- all nurses and assistants were so attentive to my needs."

Dr. Seidman says he is proud to have helped such deserving individuals get the dental care they so desperately needed. He is a strong advocate for giving back, noting that it is very rewarding, and "some things are more important than money."

About Sheldon Seidman, DDS

Dr. Seidman earned his dental degree from Northwestern University Dental School, where he also acted as a clinical instructor for six years. His mission is to help every patient at Smile Chicago improve the form and function of their teeth through a wide range of general and cosmetic dentistry options. Dr. Seidman is currently a member of both the American Dental Association and American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and he is a past President of the Chicago Dental Society's North Side Branch. He is available for interview upon request.

For more information about Dr. Seidman and Smile Chicago, please visit smilechicago.com and facebook.com/SmileChicago.

To view the original source of this press release, click here:
http://www.smilechicago.com/news-room/chicago-dentist-volunteers-to-treat-holocaust-survivors-pro-bono