Mobile Dentistry - The Maiden Voyage

This past Friday, January 4th 2013, Modesto's first Mobile Dental Clinic opened the doors to the public for it's maiden "voyage." I use the term voyage loosely, because the van never left it's homebase and we chose to operate out of the parking lot of Nineveh Ministries at Calvary Temple Church in Modesto.

The goal for this mobile dental van is to travel monthly to four separate locations in the general Modesto area. This van will team with a mobile medical van and a mobile food/clothing van to take care of basic needs for Modesto's needy population. To ease into the "mobile" part of the dental clinic, we have decided to stay close to home for the first three months and work out the kinks of providing dentistry in a small mobile clinic. 

Our first clinic was not without trial and error. We began our very chilly morning without heat in the van. The digital xrays did not want to communicate with the computers. The sterilizer would not function either. Yet, with all the small setbacks, our motivated team of dentists, assistants, hygienists and support staff was still able to treat about a dozen patients with exams, fillings and extractions.  

Special thanks should be given to both my dental assistants Debbie and Shelley, to Dr. Corey Acree and his assistant Diane, and the support staff from Nineveh Ministries at Calvary Temple Church.

If you would like to be a part of this great opportunity to serve our community, please contact our office. Enjoy the following photos of our first day.
 

Keep on smiling,
Dr. Fletcher

Mobile Dentistry Update

This past weekend I had a chance to walk through the Mobile Dental Clinic from Nineveh Ministries with my good friend and dental colleague, Dr. Corey Acree. I was very excited to see this project as it nears completion and we are very close to providing emergency dental care for the underserved in our community .

Over the past two years, from idea to completion, this has been a large project with many partners providing the finances and grunt labor to finish the van. As it stands, we only need materials and supplies to begin serving the public. The dollar amount equals $6,000.00, which will allow us to open the doors hopefully within the next month.

THE PLAN:  During the winter months of December, January and February, the dental van will be open once/month with a limited number of patients. In order to work out the kinks of practicing dentistry in a confined space, Dr. Corey Acree and I will begin by working with our own staff in the van. This will allow us to determine what works and what needs to be adjusted for mobile dentistry. Beginning in the spring of 2013, the van will rotate weekly to four separate locations in Modesto. We will take the information we learned in the winter and train the other volunteer doctors and staff to deliver emergency dental care in a mobile clinic.

LOCATIONS:
Week 1 - Oregon Park
Week 2 - Robertson Road Park
Week 3 - Apostolic Assembly First Church
Week 4 - Fairview Park

THE NEED:

Finances: The final $6,000.00 is needed to complete the van. This will allow us to open the doors in December.
Staff: Drawing from local dentists and auxillary staff, we will need volunteers beginning in the Spring of 2013.

THE CHALLENGE:
Raising the final few dollars in the next month and the man power in the next few months to get this clinic underway. If you are interested in joining the effort, please let me know.

I am super excited to be part of this plan. Stay tuned for updates.

Keep on smiling,
Dr. Fletcher

Announcement: Dr. Fletcher Teaching

We are excited to report that Dr. Fletcher has started teaching in the Dental Assisting program at Heald College in Modesto.

For the past fifteen years, our office has been involved with the education process. Dr. Fletcher has regularly invited dental assisting interns from the Modesto Junior College's Dental Assisting Program to work chairside with him. However, last year MJC chose to terminate the dental assisting program.

Looking for a new way to engage in education, Dr. Fletcher contacted Heald College last Fall and found a good match. He teaches at the college on Tuesday mornings and then returns to see patients in the office on Tuesday afternoon.

Dr. Fletcher says, "I have enjoyed the opportunity to teach, I've been teaching patients, staff and interns since I've been in practice, so this is a natural fit for me to teach in the classroom. At this point in my career, part-time teaching at a local school seems to work well."

For more information about Dr. Fletcher's schedule and what he's doing outside of the office, stay up to date with FletcherDentistry.com.

It's Payback Time People! - Dunk Dr. Fletcher!

THIS COULD BE YOU!

AND

THIS COULD BE ME!

5th ANNUAL CARNIVAL FOR CHARITY 

Join us this Saturday, June 25th, 2011 from 10:20-11:00AM
Dr. Fletcher will be in the dunk tank for a limited time, so don't waste time!

This is your chance to get back at him for all the pokes, shots, and junk he has thrown in your mouth!
Do you just want to silence his dumb jokes and horrible singing? 

Come to the carnival! Bring your kids! Buy tickets! Dunk your favorite dentist! Help the kids of Kenya!

CARNIVAL WEBSITE HERE

The proceeds from this year's carnival go to Agape Children's Ministry

Keep smiling! - Dr. Fletcher

Dr. Andy on the Road

Today was the annual visit to third graders to talk about dental care and then complete a quick exam!

No visit with Dr. Andy would be complete without Cornelius Reginald "Bob" the Dinosaur...a quick read of "Dr. Desoto"...and an accidental showing of a large pair of underpants!

Comedy and Dentistry...I was in my element!

Keep smiling, Dr. Fletcher

Standing in line to get teeth checked!

Reading Dr. Desoto - my favorite book!