‘I don’t know what I’d do without them’: Dentist volunteers offer free care to patients

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the amount the McCormick Foundation will contribute for every dollar donated by a reader.

About 10 years ago, when Christine Soderberg was going through tough times and needed help paying some bills, she learned about a DuPage County clinic that offered free dental services to qualified patients.

The Westchester resident has been a client of the CDS Foundation Dental Clinic in Wheaton ever since.

“I don’t know what I’d do without them,” said Soderberg, who since childhood has been fastidious about maintaining her teeth. “To have someone fairly close in the suburbs be so caring and kind, so welcoming and giving of their time, there are no words for it.”

The dentists, hygienists and staff members “have been nothing but wonderful” added Soderberg, who credits her continued dental health to the clinic.

The clinic is one of five organizations receiving grants from the Daily Herald and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation as part of the newspaper’s annual Neighbors in Need fundraising campaign.

For each dollar readers donate, the McCormick Foundation contributes 50 cents. The fundraiser also benefits The Northern Illinois Food Bank, Lazarus House, District 214 Cares and WINGS. Since 2021, the partnership has raised a total of $75,000 − $50,000 from readers and $25,000 in matching funds. To donate to Neighbors in Need, see www.dailyherald.com/neighbors.

Established by the Chicago Dental Society in 2008 to promote oral health literacy and provide no-cost dental care to low-income residents in Cook, DuPage and Lake counties, the CDS Foundation serves as the organization’s philanthropic arm. In 2013, volunteers established the CDS Foundation’s free clinic in Wheaton, replacing a free clinic that formerly operated there.

“We don’t bill insurance or public aid,” said foundation Executive Director Kristen Weber. “We don’t even accept cash payments. We accept donations.”

For every dollar donated, the volunteers provide $4 worth of dental care, she said. To date, clinic volunteers have provided clients more than $5 million in dental care. To qualify for services, patients must present proof of income at or below 200% of the poverty level, Weber said.

About 500 patients visit the clinic annually, said Weber. Most range from 33 to 70 years old. Of those, 60% come from DuPage County, according to Weber, 26% come from Cook County and 9% come from Lake County. The remainder come from other collar counties, she said.

Between 20% and 25% of patients experience homelessness. Others include domestic violence and human trafficking survivors, said Weber, adding that many clients haven’t seen a dentist in years, mainly because they can’t afford it.

The foundation’s ongoing challenge remains making people who qualify for treatment aware of the clinic.

Another is getting them there. Transportation is a challenge, admits Weber. “Even in DuPage, people don’t have a way to get around.”

According to Weber, 80 to 120 licensed dentists and other professionals volunteer at the center annually. Among them is Dr. Glenn DeWeirdt, chairman of the clinic’s board of managers.

A CDS member since he graduated Northwestern University Dental School in 1984, DeWeirdt has volunteered his services for more than 20 years - first at the forerunner clinic and for the last 10 years at the foundation’s clinic.

“As a volunteer it’s a wonderful experience because it allows us to do what we love: treating and helping patients,” DeWeirdt said.

“Our clinic provides a venue for (patients) to get quality dental care they cannot get anywhere else,” he said, adding it’s the same care offered by dental professionals in private practice.

He says most patients work but cannot afford dental insurance and “lack the disposable income to afford, in some cases, even basic dental care.”

“The need for our services is growing exponentially … We have more patients on our waiting list than we can see,” said DeWeirdt.

DeWeirdt said they could use 20 more volunteer dentists and 10 to 20 more volunteer hygienists. Dental professionals interested in volunteering can contact the clinic or email DeWeirdt at clinicchair@CDSfound.org.

Soderberg says she would recommend the clinic to anyone.

“It’s an incredible place,” she said, one staffed by special people who in spite of other commitments, “still find time to help people like me.”

The Chicago Dental Society Foundation Dental Clinic is located at 416 E. Roosevelt Road, Suite 102, Wheaton. Closed temporarily, the clinic will reopen no later than Jan. 2. Call (630) 260-8530 for more information.