New Hampshire
Local Hero: Dr. A.

“I want helping to be part of my career,” says Dr. A., who has volunteered for DDS for the last three years. Following dental school in New York City and a residency in Pennsylvania, Dr. A. opted for a general dentistry practice in the suburbs of Hudson, N.H., where she can work in a rural area with a wide spectrum of patients who know her as “Dr. S.”  Her clientèle includes kids, families, and elderly patients, many of whom live nearby and who can walk to the office.  According to Dr. A., the majority of her DDS clients have been denture patients. “They’re socially active, but it’s embarrassing for them not to be able to eat in public,” she says. “Most of them just want to chew, they want to smile, and they want to be comfortable. The most rewarding thing is giving them back the ability to eat the food that they like.  With treatment, they become a lot more confident and healthy, and their health and social lives improve.” Dr. A. praises DDS for allowing her to return her patients to “ideal dental health without the restrictions of insurance and finances. They’re the best patients,” she adds.  “They always come on time, they never cancel, and they’re so appreciative—they’ll be crying in the chair, thanking us. I love doing it.”