Salvation Army and Dentaid unite to deliver vital dental care
published on 3 Apr 2025
People in need received free dental treatment at The Salvation Army in Leigh-On-Sea recently after charity Dentaid visited the church.
Major Robert Davis leads The Salvation Army in the town with Captain Clare Davis. He said appointments were offered to families from Smiley Pre-School which runs at the church and charity.
In total, ten people were treated in the clinic which was held in a mobile unit in The Salvation Army car park. It was aimed at people experiencing financial hardship or difficulty registering with a dentist and funded by Southend-on-Sea City Council (SSCC).
After treatment was complete, a council representative took details of patients to try to register them with a local NHS dentist.
Robert said it was a privilege to be able to support the community in a different way. The Salvation Army plans to work with Dentaid again in the autumn when local schools will be offered appointments.
He said: “When we were offered Dentaid, we jumped at the chance. I spoke to a mum who had been in pain for some time and couldn’t find an NHS dentist. Thanks to Dentaid, she got the treatment she needed which was a huge relief.”
Jill Harding, head of fundraising at Dentaid, said she is aware people facing health inequalities encounter physical, practical and emotional barriers when it comes to accessing dental care.
She said: “By taking a charity dental service to partners such as The Salvation Army we can provide dental care in an environment where people feel supported and comfortable. This service is provided by volunteer dentists and dental nurses with Dentaid staff and the results are transformative.
“We can also increase awareness of oral health which can help our patients move on to a new chapter in their lives.”
Councillor Laurie Burton, SSCC Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and SEND, said: “Good oral health is vital for overall wellbeing, yet too many vulnerable residents struggle to access dental care. By securing funding for Dentaid, we’ve helped deliver essential treatment to those most in need and ensured they have a pathway to continued care with local NHS dentists."
