Help Provide Free Care
Your gift helps RAM provide free dental, vision, and medical services to people in need.
Randy hadn’t seen a dentist since he was 10 years old. For 48 years, he avoided seeing a dentist because he couldn’t afford it without insurance. So when he noticed the large chip in his front tooth, it became something he had to tolerate. He had to live with it, even though it was affecting his confidence at work.
Randy is a pastor. He also runs a popular website reviewing bibles and pitches design ideas to bible manufactures. All of this puts Randy in front of cameras regularly, through interviews and social media accounts with thousands of combined followers.
Though he does not mind being on camera, knowing that so many people could see the chip in his tooth had taken a toll on his confidence for years. Because the chip was on his front tooth, he knew it was one of the first things people noticed.
RAM dentist helps restore confidence
At the Remote Area Medical (RAM®) Clinic he attended, a dentist cleaned and cared for his teeth and repaired the chip that had been affecting his confidence.
Randy was excited to show off his new smile without the chip. He shared that he will feel more confident on camera while promoting his work without the chip on his front tooth.
“And now I can do that kind of video without having the chip there. . . Just, it’s gonna feel better,” said Randy.
Support This Story
Your gift helps RAM continue providing free care to people in need.
His eyesight was making work harder
His tooth wasn’t the only thing impacting his ability to work. Because he spends eight hours or more each day writing on a computer, being able to see the screen clearly is important.
Though he had gotten new glasses within the last few years, their quality was not great, and they did not help with his astigmatism. He was having a hard time seeing more than a few inches from his face, making working even more difficult.
Randy was able to get a comprehensive vision exam that determined he needed bifocals, not just the reading glasses he’d been using.
Randy received his new bifocals in the mail just a few weeks after the RAM Clinic, making it easier for him to see the screen while he works.
Volunteers made the experience comfortable
RAM Clinics would not be possible without our volunteers. At every clinic, patients tell us how kindly they were treated, and Randy was no exception.
“[The volunteers] were awesome,” Randy said. “Every single one of them was kind, polite, made sure I had all the information that I needed at every single step. They were great. Great. Every single one.”
Randy shared that the volunteer that impacted his experience most was Dr. Brian Swann, DDS, MPH. Dr. Swann is a member of RAM’s Board of Directors.
Dr. Swann not only fixed the chip in Randy’s tooth but also provided him with dental education. Because it had been so long since Randy saw a dentist, Dr. Swann took time to explain the importance of oral hygiene, both at home and through seeing the dentist regularly.
“[Dr. Swann] was so kind. He had a lot of work to do. And I knew that was gonna be the case, because of how long it’s been [since I’ve seen a dentist],” Randy said. “He was giving me advice, giving me points, and not judging. Just telling me — telling me what I need to know. And it didn’t come across bad at all, it came across kind and polite. I like him a lot, he was great.”
Read more oral health and wellness insights from Dr. Swann here.
What Randy’s story shows
RAM often sees patients, like Randy, who haven’t been able to access care for many years. That’s why RAM brings free, quality healthcare to them. We work to remove barriers such as cost and distance so patients can get the care they need.
Randy once went 48 years without seeing a dentist, but now he knows where to turn for care. In just a few short hours, Randy’s confidence was restored.
Supporting RAM while we support patients
- Donate today to help patients like Randy get the care they need
- Volunteer at a RAM Clinic near you, and support your community
- Read our blog and download our free magazine to learn more about RAM, our patients, volunteers, and more
- Shop RAM’s official store and tag RAM when you wear your gear
- Walmart’s Spark Good Program allows you to round up your change and donate it to RAM
