Over the past 10 years, community involvement has become a staple of Heartland Dental’s commitment to exceeding world-class company standards. From complimentary smile makeovers to canned food drives to Starbucks takeovers, our supported dentists and teams embrace the value of building positive relationships with their local communities. This dedication stems from our founder and active executive chairman, Dr. Richard E. Workman.
In order to streamline and scale these incredible events to touch as many lives as possible, Heartland Dental formally branded and trademarked Free Dentistry Day, a day dedicated to providing free dental care to the growing number of Americans without dental insurance. Each year, thousands of our supported dentists and team members participate in this initiative, providing over $10 million in free dentistry across the nation. All of our supported practices are strongly encouraged to host a Free Dentistry Day event at their individual location on a random day of their choosing.
Originally created in 2010, Free Dentistry Days not only give our supported dentists and teams the chance to share their time and resources with those less fortunate, but also team bonding experiences, networking opportunities, and effective branding strategies. Both Dr. Workman and his wife, Angie Workman, have always been passionate about charitable causes, and Free Dentistry Day seemed like the perfect way for the Heartland Dental Corporation to give back.
Prior to an office’s Free Dentistry Day, Heartland Dental provides customized marketing efforts and public relations support to each office, carefully partnered with operational recommendations and work flows to ensure the event runs as smoothly as possible.
“By staying involved in their local communities through Free Dentistry Days, our supported dentists and teams gain inside knowledge and personal intuition that basic market research can’t substitute,” said Dr. Workman. “Nobody knows your local residents like you do. The Free Dentistry Day initiative gives our supported practices the tools and processes they need to give back to those they serve, while offering the freedom and flexibility to make a positive impact on their towns in their own unique way.”
During a typical Free Dentistry Day event, a variety of free services are offered to every individual on a first-come, first-served basis. Our supported dentists and teams oftentimes tailor their events to children, veterans, and even active duty military personnel. Standard services include sealants, cleanings, fillings, extractions, and oral cancer screenings. After hosting over 500 events, we’ve found that Free Dentistry Days are oftentimes the only opportunity for local residents to afford the dental care they need and deserve in a safe, comfortable environment.
“To know we’ve changed over 40,000 lives with this initiative is astounding to me,” said Dr. Workman. “That’s why I believe in Heartland Dental; to be part of an organization that has served so many people in need – that’s why we do what we do.”
If there’s anything we’ve learned when it comes to giving back to the communities we serve, it’s that when organizations truly focus on meeting and exceeding the needs of the underserved, success naturally follows. As we continue to grow, evolve, and innovate, the motivation behind charity and giving back consistently triumphs over any potential challenges and roadblocks our company may endure.
To Dr. Workman, net worth and material objects cannot create happiness or give purpose – it’s truly about expanding access to care across the nation. In 2018 alone, Heartland Dental supported practices served 6,427 patients and donated $2.4 million in free dentistry across 20 states. For more information, please visit www.FreeDentistryDay.org.