Q. Who works for the Crisis at Christmas Dental Service (CCDS)?

Anybody in the dental profession who is willing to volunteer is welcomed. For those who are appropriately trained, there are plenty of opportunities to provide oral health promotion activities as well as scaling, polishing, restorations and fluoride varnish application, dental extractions and since 2017, we are able to provide same-day dentures.

Q. Tell me about your involvement with Crisis at Christmas – when and why did it begin?

My involvement with Crisis at Christmas Dental Service began about eight years ago. I was not long out of university and was keen to find a way to use my dental skills to give back to those who might have difficulties accessing dental care. At the time I was working as a dental core trainee in oral and maxillofacial surgery; I was coming to realise that I found providing care for patients with complex social issues very rewarding and Crisis at Christmas seemed like a great opportunity to explore this interest further. Since these first tentative shifts I have been back every year and am now a shift leader and deputy dental service organiser.

Credit: The Crisis at Christmas dental team

Volunteering with Crisis at Christmas was truly eye-opening and gave invaluable insight into the stark inequalities in oral health that affect people experiencing marginalisation and social exclusion. Volunteering with the Crisis at Christmas Dental Service ignited a passion for Homeless and Inclusion Oral Health that has shaped my career ever since.

Q. Give an outline of your activities.

The Crisis at Christmas Dental Service (CCDS) provides dental care for people experiencing homelessness from the 23rd to the 29th December every year. The service currently runs four mobile dental units hosted across two sites in North and South London.

CCDS provides both oral health promotion and clinical dentistry. Just like many other aspects to delivering a clinical dental service, these include: running the reception and waiting area, assisting in the decontamination room, re-stocking of mobile units, providing outreach triage for guests attending one of the other Crisis at Christmas sites and making cups of tea for guests and volunteers. This year we even had a dental laboratory set up on site to make same-day dentures. There is always something to keep our volunteers busy and that might also include spending time helping to make our guests feel welcome by chatting and playing board games with them while they wait for their appointment.

Q. Why do you continue to do it?

CCDS provides such an amazing service; every year we deliver dental care to over 400 people experiencing homelessness, some 75% of whom do not access another dentist throughout the year. We help to get people out of pain so they can enjoy their Christmas dinner, we chat and laugh and enjoy music and games with the guests, we use both our clinical and non-clinical skills to do real good. When dental professionals from across the country come to volunteer at Crisis at Christmas they arrive as strangers, they spend their shift working as colleagues and they leave as friends. Though it is not without its challenges, I have thoroughly enjoyed every year I’ve volunteered and I couldn't imagine a Christmas without Crisis now.

Q. Any reaction from your family?

The first year I volunteered for CCDS my mum was a little sad to see me leave for London on Boxing Day. However; Crisis at Christmas has now become a regular feature in our festivities and we still get plenty of time to spend together as a family. And what does my partner think? Well, he and I met at CCDS and we continue to volunteer together every year!