OREGON S LE S B lAN/GAY/B l/TRANS/QUEER NEWSMAGAZINE
experience at helping someone get over their
anxiety, have the treatment done, get out of
pain and move on. And these students do a
phenomenal job. They’re amazing. They jump
right in and do a really good job.”
While anxiety is a common experience
for dental patients, dentists working out of
the mobile clinic have to be especially cre
ative when it comes to fostering a calming
environment since IV anesthesia, oral seda
tion and “laughing gas” (nitrous oxide) are
not an option.
“We just take the time to really explain to
the patient what’s going on, to really listen
to them if they have questions, and if they’re
feeling anything uncomfortable we’ll stop
and reassess. We’re not in a rush to just try
and push them through,” Beck says. “It’s just
a real test of patience, for the patients and for
the staff, because we don’t have some of the
tools that can sort of desensitize people—we
have local anesthetic, and we use as much as
we need to make people numb so they don’t
feel what we’re doing. We’re as kind as we
can be.”
Still, despite the minimal supplies and
“elbow-to-elbow” workspace, Beck says
patients are generally grateful to have free
access to much-needed services they could
otherwise not afford. Beck volunteers at the
clinic once or twice a month, traveling to
whatever parts of Portland have the greatest
need for his services. Over the course of a 9
a.m. to 2 p.m. shift, he typically sees about
15 patients.
“The population we’re working on,
don’t have regular access to healthcare and so
for them to be able to come in and have some
dental work done at no charge to get them
AUGUST 20 2010
out of pain, it’s just a godsend for them,” Beck
says. “Fve been doing this for 10 or 11 years
and I’m still amazed how these people have
nothing. Most of them don’t have homes,
they don’t have jobs, they’re just living day
to day, many of them on the street. They are
so appreciative and, most of them, so upbeat
when they come in that it’s just amazing to
me. So that really sticks with me.”
When Beck isn’t providing dental care or
education, he takes care of his own health
by cycling, working out and enjoying the
outdoors. He also travels regularly with his
partner, Jorge Garza, a professional opera
singer who tours in the United States and
Europe.
It is this privileged life that inspires Beck
to contribute to the community.
“It’s my way of giving back,” Beck says.
“Dentistry has afforded me a comfortable life
and I feel very blessed.” J K
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