How a Valley dentist is 'making a difference' for homeless, volunteers

PHOENIX - UPDATE: Thanks to ABC15 viewers, the CASS Dental Clinic, which helps provide dental services to the homeless here in Maricopa County, has had a number of people call in to volunteer.

Dr. Volcheck said, "Not just a few people called in, as a result of the story you did, we've have I believe 12 dentists call in to start volunteering".

D. Patel said, "[We] turned the television on and we tuned into the newscast story that you had featuring CASS, very next day I called CASS and set-up a time to come in and just finished my first week of volunteering."
 

From quiet heroes to loud crusaders, ABC15 is highlighting people making a difference in our community.

Dr. Kris Volcheck started volunteering at Central Arizona Shelter Services 18 years ago.

"Actually when I was still in private practice, I started to volunteer down here, nothing to do with dentistry, it was just to come down and hand out clothing and serve food."

That's when his life was changed forever.

"I had seen some horrendous mouths during that time," he said. "The one thing they were missing in everything they do for the homeless was dental, was oral health."

But, before the $1.6 million dollar CASS Dental Clinic for the homeless could be imagined, he started small, working out of a trailer on the CASS campus.

That's about the time, Dr. Earl Weisbrod started volunteering, after he was forced to leave his private practice. "It stemmed from an addiction to a pain killer," said Weisbrod.

But Dr. Volcheck's dream was to give people second chances.

Now, he was going to include volunteers.

"You don't find that many people who are non-judgmental," said Weisbrod.

After volunteering successfully, Dr. Weisbrod was able to return to private practice, while continuously volunteering.

Meanwhile, the results of the patients, you would really have to see to believe.

One victim was missing all but two of her teeth, stemming from a domestic violence attack.

She couldn't get a job because of it.

"We did a full mouth restoration on her, about $10,000, and she very quickly after that got a job at Macy's," said Dr. Volcheck.

There is no cost to the patients.

And for Richard Miles, he said it's made a huge difference in his life because he said he couldn't afford dental care otherwise.

"They've done a couple bridges, cleaned my teeth, rebuilt some fillings."

From the equipment to the cabinets, everything is donated to the CASS Dental Clinic.

The idea is so hundreds of students and volunteer dentists from all over Arizona can use it.

"Most of the dentists don't have this and this company updates this every year so dentists come in and say oh my goodness, this is the new stuff, you've got it down here, I want to purchase it," said Volcheck.

The CASS Dental Clinic has gone from a dream to the largest volunteer clinic in the country, but Dr. Volcheck isn't stopping there.

Next on his list, a permanent facility to help children in need.

That might be one reason he's the recipient of the Robert Wood Johnson, Community Leaders Award, a national honor.

Volcheck said the national spotlight not only awarded his endeavor $125,000, but it also affords him mentors to help expand his growing program.

"I still can't meet the demand, even if I grow to 3 times this size, I still cannot meet the demand for the homeless," said Volcheck.

If you would like to help Dr. Volcheck with his mission, just call 602-758-9000.

Find out how you can nominate someone 'making a difference' in the community.