Community

National Breast Cancer Awareness

Annually, the entire Wester Dental Team dresses up in pink scrubs (yes, including Dr. Wester) and denim jeans in exchange for a donation in support of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraiser. Each year, we choose a Friday in October and show our support for "Passionately Pink for the Cure" Day by raising donations in the fight against breast cancer.

Additionally, the Wester Dental Team has participated in the Southwestern Michigan's Race for the Cure 5K Walk/Run in beautiful downtown Kalamazoo!

Give Kids A Smile Day

National Give Kids A Smile Day was designed to provide education, preventative and restorative care to low-income children who do not have access to care. On the first Friday in February, our office has the pleasure of providing FREE dental care (exams, professional cleanings, sealants, fluoride application, fillings and education) to dozens of boys and girls from the community of Portage. Our entire staff volunteers for the day to provide much needed dental care to patients sent to us via the Portage Community Outreach Center. We enjoy participating in this nationwide event sponsored by the American Dental Association and we look forward to the next opportunity in February.

So many of us take for granted good dental care, it is difficult to understand that there are children, even as old as middle school age, who have never been to a dentist. You have made more of an impact on these children, and their families, than you know – an impact that will carry into the future…

Diane Schrock Executive Director, Portage Community Outreach Center

Wish-A-Mile (WAM) Make-A-Wish Foundation's 300 Mile Bike Trip

Many of you will remember in the spring of 2008 I was informed that I had to turn in my running shoes for a road bike. Thus began my quest every year to ride 300 miles in 3 days in the Wish-A-Mile (WAM) event sponsored by the Make-A-Wish Foundation. WAM is a 3-day, 300-mile, bicycle ride from Traverse City to Chelsea, where I raise funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation so they can continue their mission to grant wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. WAM is the Make-A-Wish Foundation's single largest fundraising event having raised approximately $1.6 million granting over 200 wishes each year alone. This year, our goal is to grant many more wishes to Michigan children!
But if you remember the main reason I am riding in the WAM (Wish-A-Mile 300 Bicycle Tour) is to honor Taylor Grainger. She is the young lady from Mattawan who was taken from us on May 15, 2007 at the age of 15 due to a congenital heart condition. Her parents, Rob and Karen, are close childhood friends so I have witnessed what Taylor and her family endured from the beginning and continue to endure with the loss of a child.

I hope that you will consider joining me as a rider, a volunteer, or a donor to help make this year's WAM the most successful to date. To learn more about this life-changing event, go to michigan.wish.org. We have nearly 100 riders on our team and have raised over $400,000.00.

I would like to give all of you a heartfelt Thank you for your comments, encouragement and support. Remember it’s for the kids and families. Thank you for helping to share in the power of a wish! "Go Team Taylor".

Sincerely, Keith Wester

No Cavity Club

Wester Dental Care is proud to announce The No Cavity Club! If you have been to our office in the last 6 months, you may be aware that we now offer each of our patients, ages 18 and under, an opportunity to become a member of the No Cavity Club. All you have to do is score a cavity-free checkup during your regular 6 month professional cleaning and exam and you can enter to win a $25 gift card to the store of your choice to spend as you wish. It's just that easy. So, make sure you brush and floss regularly and practice healthy eating and drinking habits (i.e. low sugar) and you, too, can become a member of the Wester Dental Care No Cavity Club!

Wester Dental Care Supports Portage High School Athletes

As fall sports begin, please do not forget to have your child fitted for a custom-made sports guard to protect him or her from any sports injuries. Many injuries that happen are unexpected, perhaps only playing football on the front lawn with Dad. Be protected! For nearly 20 years our office has been making custom mouth guards for the Portage Northern and Portage Central Varsity Football teams and we recently made 75 custom mouth guards, free of charge, for the team's current season. Call our office and we will set up an appointment to make one for your child. We believe in protecting those precious mouths. Call us today!

Win $50 – Refer Your Friends & Family Contest!

Refer your friends and family and Wester Dental Care enters you in a drawing for a gift certificate to Crossroads Mall. Referring your friends and family is the greatest compliment you can give our office. Thank you for trusting us with your dental care!