Northern Virginia

On June 9th and 10th, fifteen hundred champions went for gold in bocce, swimming, softball, track & field, bowling, and tennis showcasing some of Richmond’s top talent during Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics at the University of Richmond.

Dr. Kamran Tavakkoli and Dr. Kambiz Tavakkoli and members of the team from Nova Dental Partners went to the University of Richmond on June 10th, where they volunteered dental services as part of The Mission of Mercy program. The Mission of Mercy (MOM) projects are conducted in identified, underserved areas of Virginia where there are not enough dental practitioners to adequately address the oral health needs of the community.

“We had such a great day in Richmond helping the local community with their oral health needs. Community service is our social responsibility and we are committed to contributing our time and services to our community whenever possible. I’m personally very proud to be a part of this wonderful program. ” said Dr. Kamran Tavakkoli.

Dr. Kamran and Dr. Kambiz instructed and performed extractions and composite restorations.  They also spent a lot of time screening patients to customize individual treatment plans. The hygiene team provided assistance with cleanings and fluoride treatments.  The Nova Dental Partners team and MOM volunteers treated approximately 200 people that were in need of dental work.

About The Mission of Mercy

“An estimated 3.8 million Virginians - more than 47% of our total population - do not have dental insurance according to the Virginia Health Care Foundation. Sixty-nine (69) localities in the Commonwealth have no dental safety net provider. Of the 66 localities that do, many of the clinics operate on a part-time basis and are overwhelmed by the number of calls for help. Without access to affordable dental care, many people -- especially those who are low-income, underinsured, disabled or seniors -- are left to suffer pain, discomfort, and embarrassment with nowhere else to turn. To address the overwhelming need for access to free oral health care, Dr. Terry Dickinson, executive director of the Virginia Dental Association, created the Mission of Mercy (MOM) program in 2000 to provide high-quality dental care for underserved Virginians. The MOM program operates mobile clinics in strategic locations across the State, providing preventive, restorative, and surgical dental treatments to more than 4,000 low-income individuals each year."

Tis’ the season to be thankful! This is our first official blog post and I’m thrilled to kick it off with with a theme all about giving and being thankful!

Here at Nova Dental Partners, we have a lot to be thankful for. We have a thriving practice and we are so privileged to have amazing patients and a wonderful team of staff. As our patients know, we are all very passionate about dentistry, both clinically and in terms of the personal aspect of helping patients achieve their oral health goals. Another part of dentistry which I personally love is the ability to help others who are less fortunate. I am an active member of the Northern Virginia Dental Society who informed me of an exciting opportunity to volunteer my time and services at the Northern Virginia Dental Clinic.

The Northern Virginia Dental Clinic is a facility where low-income residents from throughout the Northern Virginia region can access oral health care services. They have a wonderful state of the art clinic in Fairfax which opened it’s doors in January 2016 and one clinic in Sterling.

As they describe “The Northern Virginia Dental Clinic is a private non-profit 501(c) (3) organization. It was established in 1994 by members of the Northern Virginia Dental Society who wanted to contribute a critically-needed service to the community while preserving the dignity of the underserved. A unique, public/private partnership between dental professionals, local governments and social service agencies was formed.”

In November, I was delighted to serve 20 patients where I was able to perform routine check-ups, treat patients with dental pain and who required emergency care. Community service is our social responsibility and I am committed to contributing my time and services to my community whenever possible.  I’m very proud to be a part of this wonderful program. The gentleman to my right also happens to be my brother-in-law, Kayvan Shahrzad who is now officially a dentist! It’s always a great moment for me to work alongside my brother-in-law on such a wonderful program.

For more information about about NVDC, referring agencies, appointments and hours of operation please visit http://www.nvds.org/northern-virginia-dental-clinic.

The NVDC accepts only those individuals deemed eligible through an established network of referring social service agencies.

• Individuals must be age 18 or older.

• Individual/family income must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.

• Individual must be a resident* of:

  • Arlington County

  • Fairfax County

  • Loudoun County

  • City of Alexandria

  • City of Fairfax

  • City of Falls Church

*Additionally, a small percentage of Prince William County residents may be eligible for care. A higher fee for service applies.

Note: While eligibility is determined by the referring agencies, the NVDC reserves the right to request a reassessment of eligibility or to refuse treatment.