One smile at a time: ADA President's own ADA DHF story

The work of the ADA Dental Health Foundation (ADA DHF) has long been one of the more exciting and satisfying parts of the ADA’s member experience. Taking part in one of the Foundation’s programs can provide not only personal fulfilment but contacts, experience and a whole new mindset on what’s important to you and where you want your career to go next.

Here, ADA President Dr Chris Sanzaro tells of his own lifechanging journey volunteering with the ADA DHF.

When Dr Chris Sanzaro began volunteering with the ADA Dental Health Foundation (then the National Dental Foundation) in 2015, he was driven by a troubling reality he could no longer ignore. Across Tasmania, and throughout Australia, a widening gap had formed between public dental services, stretched beyond capacity, and private care, which remained inaccessible to many of our community who needed it most.

“There were so many people falling through the cracks,” he recalls. “Patients who didn’t qualify for public assistance but couldn’t afford private treatment, or those stuck on waiting lists for years, getting progressively worse. That inequity was the reason I got involved.”

What began as an awareness of a systemic challenge quickly grew into a personal mission. Encouraged by his colleagues already engaged in ADA Dental Health Foundation work, Chris was particularly drawn to the Adopt a Patient model, which was an approach built on comprehensive, long-term care rather than one-off intervention. It aligned perfectly with his belief in dentistry as a means to change someone’s life, not just their mouth.

The heart of the work: people

If you ask Chris what keeps him committed a decade later, he won’t hesitate: “It’s the people, patients, and the colleagues who stand beside them.”

For him, the draw of this volunteer work lies in the journey: meeting someone at their most vulnerable, guiding them through a full course of treatment, and watching them emerge healthier, more confident, and often with new opportunities in life. Some patients regain the ability to eat comfortably; others finally feel able to smile without hiding. Some even secure employment for the first time in years.

“That kind of impact stays with you,” Chris says. “It’s fulfilling in a way that’s very hard to match.”

Equally inspiring has been the way his entire practice has embraced the cause. Dentists, support staff, and collaborating partners have all become part of the Foundation’s work. Whether it’s a clinician taking on a complex case, like Dr Josie Thomas did recently, or the whole practice rallying to restore a patient’s oral health, ‘giving back’ has taken root and become an integral part of their workplace culture.

“Our support staff are critical,” Chris adds. “Coordinating appointments, guiding patients, making sure they feel supported... none of this happens without them.”

Moments that stay with you

While Chris insists that no single case stands above the rest, because each patient’s story matters deeply, some transformations are undeniably dramatic. Before-and-after photos (such as these, above right) tell stories of restored dignity, renewed confidence, and lives redirected.

A call to colleagues: ‘just start with one’

For any dentist considering volunteering, Chris’ message is super simple: “Give it a go.”

He describes the barrier to entry as refreshingly low. The Foundation handles eligibility, referrals, and logistics, leaving clinicians free to focus solely on the care itself.

“The commitment is just one patient at a time. If you can only help on certain days or times, the team adapts. The admin is minimal. It’s flexible, it’s supported, and it’s incredibly meaningful.”

Chris also eagerly acknowledges the generosity of the wider community behind these cases, from colleagues through to lab partners such as Southern Cross Dental Laboratory, who often provide pro bono work (SCD GM Jonathan Evans is pictured, left, recently celebrating 10 years supporting the ADA DHF).

Working together not only feels great, but it strengthens any dental professional’s overall network and provides that unbeatable feeling of collegiality.

“It reinforces how strong our profession is when we pull together,” says Chris.

Returning to the heart of dentistry

For Chris and his team, participating in the ADA DHF isn’t simply an act of charity, it’s a grounding force.

“Volunteering reminds us why we became dentists,” he reflects. “It reconnects us with compassion, community, and human connection. It’s enriching not just professionally, but personally.”

And as the images here show, the impact radiates far beyond the dental chair. It echoes through families, workplaces and communities, one restored smile at a time.