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It means a lot to us when our patients tell others about Dentus. That's why this past summer we thanked them by holding two "Spread the word. Win cool stuff" prize drawings. To enter, patients simply filled out a referral card. When the person they referred returned the card, they were both automatically entered into the drawings.

There were a lot of amazing prizes our winners could choose from. Here's what they went home with:

This year's prize for spreading the word:

Great Wolf Lodge: 2 night stay

This year's prize for being referred:

Great Wolf Lodge: 1 night stay

Everyone agrees, last summer's drawing was a great success, so look for another referral reward event—and another chance to "Share the Smiles"—this coming spring.

Bring your extra Halloween candy to Dentus Dental Center on Wednesday, November 2nd, 4pm – 7pm. We will pay $1.00 for each pound. There will be decorations, costumes and a lot of fun! The Tooth Fairy may even make a special appearance.

Last year, we collected 125 lbs. of candy, which was sent to Operation Gratitude, an organization that has sent more than 685,000 care packages to troops overseas.

In an effort to curb the adverse effects of excessive sugar consumption, including tooth decay, Dentus doctors are reminding Vancouver residents that eating fewer sweets and maintaining regular checkups will give you something to smile about.

More information

• See the Halloween Candy Buy-Back page on Facebook
• Operation Gratitude

It means a lot to us when our patients tell others about Dentus. That's why this past summer we thanked them by holding two "Spread the word. Win cool stuff" prize drawings. To enter, patients simply filled out a referral card. When the person they referred returned the card, they were both automatically entered into the drawings.

There were a lot of amazing prizes our winners could choose from. Here's what they went home with:

This year's prize for spreading the word:

A 42" flat screen TV

This year's prize for being referred:

A Wii® gaming system

Everyone agrees, last summer's drawing was a great success, so look for another referral reward event—and another chance to "Share the Smiles"—this coming spring.

Bring your extra Halloween candy to Dentus Dental Center on Monday, November 1st, 4pm – 7pm. We will pay $1.00 for each pound*. There will be decorations, costumes and a lot of fun! The Tooth Fairy may even make a special appearance.

Last year, we collected 84 lbs. of candy, which was sent to Operation Gratitude. An organization that sends over 60,000 packages each year to troops overseas and expects to send their 600,000th package this December.

In an effort to curb the adverse effects of excessive sugar consumption, including tooth decay, Dentus doctors are reminding Vancouver residents that eating fewer sweets and maintaining regular checkups will give you something to smile about.

*Candy must be unopened with no bite-marks or tearing.

More information

• See the Halloween Candy Buy-Back page on Facebook
• Operation Gratitude

This Halloween, Dentus is encouraging the local community to bring in extra Halloween candy, and is paying $1 for each pound*. In an effort to curb the adverse effects of excessive sugar consumption, including tooth decay, Dentus doctors are reminding Vancouver residents that eating fewer sweets and maintaining regular checkups will give you something to smile about. All goodies received will be sent to men and women serving in the military overseas, through Operation Gratitude, an organization which has already sent over 460,000 care packages to U.S. soldiers. Candy will be collected at Dentus Dental Center on Monday, November 2nd from 4:00pm to 7:00pm. Kids will be excited to know that the Tooth Fairy will be attending the event in support of their good deeds.

*Candy must be unopened with no bite-marks or tearing.

More information

• Read the press release
• See the Halloween Candy Buy-Back page on Facebook
• Operation Gratitude

Now through July 1st, Dentus will be holding a Patriotic Pop Quiz Contest, as a fun way to help patients brush up up on American History, and celebrate the 4th of July holiday. All patients are encouraged to participate, by simply visiting the front desk and completing the short quiz. Kids under 12 can play too, and will have their own version. Entrants who answer all questions correctly (without the use of a cell phone, PDA or the internet) will have their name entered into a prize drawing, to be held July 3rd. Second and Third Prize winners will receive a $25 Regal Cinemas Gift Card. The First Prize winner will receive an iPod Shuffle™.

May marked the launch of a new contest at Dentus, designed to offer patients a little fun, and some great prizes. Passers-by will have noticed a large jar labeled "Guess!", filled with candy, as they walked past the Dentus reception counter. First, second and third prizes were awarded to those who guessed the closest to the actual number of items in the jar (see below). Because of the popularity of this contest, Dentus plans to repeat it periodically throughout the year.

• 1st prize: To Andrea Keller, who guessed 2750 (off by 7) and won an I-Pod Shuffle
• 2nd prize: To B. W., who guessed 2685 (off by 72) and won a $25.00 gift card to Regal Cinemas
• 3rd prize: To Merri Compton, who guessed 2537 (off by 220) and won a $25.00 gift card to Regal Cinemas

Dentus' Dr. Kirk Shillinger provided dental care at the 2009 Children's Dental Health Day 2009 held at Clark College in Vancouver, WA. Participants provided children of families with low income and no insurance with free dental services during the February 7 event. Doctors met with 291 patients, restored 497 surfaces, sealed 334 teeth, provided pulp therapy to 30 teeth, extracted 42 teeth, and placed fluoride varnish on 145 teeth. The event saw strong local involvement, with a total of 225 volunteers comprised of 30 dentists, 33 OHSU dental students, 25 hygienists, 49 Clark Collage dental hygiene students, 31 dental assistants, 30 Vocational Skill Center dental assistant students, 2 language interpreters, and 25 reception and auxiliary staff. This year's sponsors include Clark County Dental Society, Clark County Public Health, Clark College Dental Hygiene School, Ronald McDonald House Charities, SW Washington Free Clinic Dental, SW Washington Dental Hygiene Association, Washington Oral Health Foundation and Greater SW Washington Hygienists' Association.

There was a reason to smile in Habanero, Dominican Republic this February. Thanks to Dr. Jacqueline Angell of Dentus Dental Center in Vancouver, WA, her dental team, and a number of other volunteers, many residents of Habanero received much needed free dental care. The dental effort, which operates entirely through grass roots fundraising, spent a week in the impoverished town. During this second annual visit, the team provided care to approximately two hundred of the towns residents, many of them children. The care consisted mainly of extractions and restorations. This dedicated team also brought clothes, shoes and toys for the children.

The sporadic electricity and marginal working conditions did not hamper their efforts. The team worked long hours and then retired daily to the modest home of Brenda Backes, a Washington resident who founded Evergreen4kids.org. Initially, Brenda partnered with Dentus Dental Center to provide dental services and preventive education to the local preschool children. The effort has blossomed into an attempt to help any resident in need. The need is great, and the financial requirements are raised through a number of fundraisers in the Vancouver, WA area, year-round.

As the sun went down on their last day in Habanero, the team worked without electricity on their final patient. Outside the preschool, which served as their clinic, the locals gathered and waited for up to three hours to express their gratitude. Candles were lit throughout the crowd as they sang songs and bid the group farewell. This week lit the candle of hope, once again, for the people of Habanero. As Dr. Angell and her team took the dusty four-hour ride back to the airport, they too felt hopeful. Their hope was that they had made a difference. Indeed they did.

(Above article provided courtesy of Molly Maloney-Clark of Vancouver, WA.)

We don't want to toot our own horn, but our attention to detail has been noticed nationally. Dentus was born from a desire to create a comfortable, efficient and modern dental experience for our patients. That goal helped us to win the 2002 National Dental Center Design Contest sponsored by the Matsco companies.

The title was awarded to Dentus in the "multiple practitioner" category, out of a total of 62 entries nationwide. Elements considered by judges included ergonomics, integration of technology and the design of the interior and exterior of the structure, among others. Doctors Opray and Kaindl, along with the Dentus building were featured in the cover article in the Sept. 2002 issue of Dental Economics magazine.

> View press release (pdf, 20k)