Thanks to the efforts of the members of the Santa María Committee and the volunteer dentists of the region, the dental clinic located in the El Teniente Stadium, in Rancagua, has reached more than 800 free consultations. This achievement represents a return to pre-pandemic levels of care and reflects a firm commitment to people in vulnerable situations.

The Santa María Aid Committee, made up of wives of executives, directors and supervisors of El Teniente, has accumulated, through the clinic it runs, more than 20 years of service in free dental care. Since then, the dedication of the Committee members and the commitment of volunteer dentists have been essential to achieve this significant number of care.

Esonka Alfonso, the committee's president, said: "We are happy because we have provided more than 800 free services this year. We have made great progress thanks to the volunteers who give their time one day a month. Without their support, collaboration and volunteering, we would not be able to carry out this task."

Francisco Allan, Community Development Supervisor at El Teniente, stated that “their presence has been fundamental in providing oral health to those who need it most. Without a doubt, they have made a concrete and significant contribution to our communities. We are grateful for the constant work and perseverance, as well as the commitment and willingness of their team of volunteers, which has allowed this service to materialize effectively.”

Volunteer work

The Santa María Dental Clinic Committee began its work in the pre-mountainous town of Chacayes. A few years later, it moved to Coya, where three volunteer dentists began to care for people with limited resources. At the same time, the Committee members managed resources, supplies and the patient schedule.

Over the years, the team has grown and some volunteers, such as dentist Lilian Zúñiga, have been providing free care for over two decades. “Dentistry is expensive, we serve people who really need it. When you rehabilitate a patient and see them cry with emotion, that really touches your soul. It is a life-changing experience for them and that motivates me to continue as a volunteer,” she said.

“We receive children and adults who need correction of bone bases. For me, this space is an opportunity to give our time and work,” added Santiago Araya, dental surgeon, orthodontist and specialist in functional orthopedics of the jaw.

Francisca Herrera, a dentist, said that “it has been a very nice experience because here we work with low-income children. It is extremely enriching because we try to educate them about oral health, so that they have a better quality of life in terms of periodontal and dental diseases.”

Meanwhile, Natalia Román, a professional at the clinic, added that “being part of the institution has been super good because we help people. That is quite important because that is where our vocation as professionals and ourselves lies in being able to help people.”