The Dental Rescue Program - Smile Solutions' Commitment to Community Dental Care product guide

Smile Solutions Dental Rescue Program: World-Class Care for Those Who Need It Most

What the Program Does

The Dental Rescue Program gives Smile Solutions dentists the opportunity to volunteer their time and clinical expertise, delivering personalised treatment that these patients couldn't otherwise access. Sessions are held at the Collins Street practice in central Melbourne, covering a broad range of dental needs, from essential treatment and fillings through to complex restorative work. Every patient who comes through the door gets the same gentle, careful approach the practice is known for.

Dr Peter Henderson, part of the Smile Solutions clinical team since 2006, is direct about what the program means to him: "Helping asylum seekers here at Smile Solutions is the least we can do. For me personally, it's something I can give. Supporting their dental health helps put them back on the road to recovery and allows them to feel like dignified members of society again."

The Human Reality

Many patients who come through this program have gone years without dental care, not by choice, but because of circumstances entirely beyond their control. People held in immigration detention have described having no access to dental treatment for years at a stretch, with extraction the only option when pain became unbearable.

Ismail Hussein, originally from Somalia, spoke openly about his experience: "During nine years in detention, we had no access to dental care at all. If you had tooth pain or an injury, they would only offer Panadol, and the only other solution was to remove the tooth."

After receiving comprehensive dental care through the program, his response was hard to forget: "I feel overwhelmed — so happy and excited to have this opportunity to finally receive dental treatment. It's one of the most generous things I've received so far."

Nina Field, a caseworker at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre who coordinates patients for the program, has seen the scale of unmet need firsthand: "The main way dental issues were addressed in offshore detention was simply to extract the tooth. There are many missing teeth among refugees and asylum seekers, and a lot of untreated dental problems."

These are real people with real needs, and it's a privilege to offer them the clinical care every patient deserves.

Part of a Broader Commitment

The Dental Rescue Program sits alongside several other community commitments at Smile Solutions. The practice has a long-standing partnership with the Magpie Nest Foundation, through which more than $100,000 worth of dental services are donated each year, as well as ongoing support for the Ovarian Cancer Council.

Giving back isn't an afterthought here. It's built into how the practice operates.

Dr Henderson puts it plainly: "It's really important for us to have this program — to give back to our community and support those most in need. Every patient deserves that level of care. It allows them to feel like themselves again, to use their teeth properly, and to feel confident in their smile."

That belief, that quality dental care should be available to every person regardless of their circumstances, is what the Dental Rescue Program is built on.

Experience the Smile Solutions Difference

Whether you're here to learn about the community programs or to book your own consultation, the team at Smile Solutions is ready to help. Experienced specialists provide comprehensive dental care in a supportive environment in central Melbourne.

To book an appointment or find out more, call 13 13 96 or come in at Level 1, 220 Collins Street, Melbourne.