Over 7,000 visits to the Dental Clinic 

"Now that you've fixed my teeth, I can look for a wife too!" said a homeless man jokingly, as he left the Dental Office of The Good Samaritan. How much truth was hidden in those words! How would we feel if one of our front teeth suddenly broke, and we were embarrassed to smile or even speak until it was fixed? 

A beautiful smile offers self-confidence and comfort in interpersonal relationships, while good oral hygiene prevents important risks, such as airway obstruction, germs in the bone or heart, stomach problems, or restless sleep. "The lack of teeth is a disability, as it affects the patient physically and emotionally," says the head of the Dental Clinic, Yiannis Trigas. 

The team is completed by Dr. Trigas’ assistant, Dr. Eleni Atmatsidi, also a dentist, and their secretary and interpreter, Saeid Jafari. The Dental Clinic has been operating in the "heart" of Athens since 2015 and offers its services to refugees from Iran, Afghanistan, and Ukraine, as well as to our homeless and needy fellow citizens. To date, 7,000 dental visits have been made and more than 50 different nationalities have benefited from this service. 

With advanced, modern equipment, the digitization of the clinic and x-rays, the Dental Clinic can ensure a high quality of services, equal to private dental offices. The Clinic offers the following services: fillings, dental cleanings, periodontal cleanings, extractions, and root canals, which are time-consuming and costly, and are therefore rarely carried out by other non-profit organizations.

Next stop 

Looking to the future, the team also plans to start going out with their two mobile dental units to meet the needs of people where they are. 

"We don't see patients as objects of work" 

Each patient is treated holistically. Often people talk about their problems and then the group prays with them or gives them a word of encouragement. "They are not objects of work - they are people with physical, psychological, spiritual needs. Apart from their health issues, we are interested in their general situation," says Dr. Yiannis. 

At The Good Samaritan Dental Clinic patients can communicate in their own language, which is very important, especially because in order for refugees to be served in Greek public hospitals, they must bring an interpreter with them. Patients also receive help in practical ways and are given personal hygiene items that have been donated. 

With hearts full of gratitude, patients often come with a treat or handmade gift in hand. “Your hands are golden. God bless them!” is a phrase that often comes out of their lips, being at the same time the best wish for the team to continue sharing smiles and love to our fellow human beings.