Even before I saw Robert (not his real name), Milly our receptionist pulled me aside and said, “Dr Cathey, this is a kind, good man, I hope we can help him.”
I began my talk with him as I do all new patients, simply asking what his main problem is.  He looked down, shook his head, and said, “They all need to come out.”  Sometimes when a patient says that, it is not true, but for Robert, it was true.  When I presented him with the treatment plan, he looked at me and said, “I can’t pay for that.  I guess I’ll just have to let them continue to fall out on their own.”  I told him to save up enough to get the two worst ones out, then we would go from there.  I prayed with him, thanking God for bringing us together to give us the opportunity of getting him in the best dental health we possibly could and asking for God’s guidance.  At his next appointment I was able to tell him that we had found a dental sponsor, and that if he could pay a small portion of the total, he could have the rest of the work done.  We have begun treatment and he is unbelievably appreciative of our offer to help.  I feel confident that with his new dentures, he will be showing us a brand new full smile in the very near future.