CBC, Postmedia, et al. - Free dental clinic opens in St-Henri

A new dental clinic in Montreal is providing free oral hygiene care to people who can't afford it. The Jim Lund Clinic, located at the Welcome Hall Mission in St-Henri, officially opened its doors Friday.

The centre is the result of a partnership with McGill University's Faculty of Dentistry and the Hall Mission, a social services agency that assists more than 10,000 homeless, elderly and low-income families every month. Professional oral hygiene care is not a priority for people who are struggling financially or living on the margins of society, say clinic organizers.

"I think the private office model that most of us know and most of us use works well for the majority of people, but there's an important minority for whom it just does not work," said Dr. Paul Allison, dean of the Faculty of Dentistry.