February 19, 2010

Making A Difference Dentists With A Heart Day

Several groups worked together for the benefit of Mesquite and east Dallas are community members in need at a special "Dentists with a Heart Day" on Feb. 5.

Meeting at the Mesquite offices of Dr. Byron McKnight and Dr. Ken Taylor, who donated their facility for the day, were eight dentists, four hygienists and 25 volunteers.

This team served 50 patients, providing them with free dental services that would normally have been worth a total of $40,000.

Coming together for the event were Mission East Dallas, which is an indigent care facility, the Dallas County Dental Society, and various dentists, hygienists, assistants and volunteer staff from around the Metroplex.

Precision Prosthetics, a lab based in Denton, was also onsite to do partials, dentures and other prosthetic services.

In addition, teeth were cleaned, filled, extracted and the dental professionals even performed some trauma repair work for patients.

Also participating with volunteers or supporting the event through donating funds to underwrite the costs of supplies and lab fees were the Mesquite Rotary Club, Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church and St. Pius X Catholic Church.

A local elementary school brought some of their students with special needs over for treatment during the "Dentists with a Heart Day" event.

The day successfully dealt with an existing patient backlog, enabling the Mission East Dallas Clinic to accept new patients, and provided life-changing care to many patients.

A man with a mission

Local dentist reaches out to Guatemalans

By Jim Gibbs

When local dentist Byron McKnight went to San Antonio a few years ago, he had no idea that the trip would change the lives of hundreds of Guatemalans.

“I was in San Antonio and I ran into an old friend of mine and we started talking about the people we went to school with and where they all were now,” McKnight said. “One of the guys I asked about was Robert Campbell.”

Campbell was a physician who, unbeknownst to McKnight, had a terminal illness. Because he knew he didn’t have long to live, McKnight’s former roommate decided to forego a more lucrative private practice so that he could concentrate on helping those in need.

“My friend told me that Robert was in Houston, so after I got back home I called him,” McKnight said. “During the course of the conversation he told me that he had set up a medical clinic in Guatemala. He also said the operation of the clinic was going well but that he needed someone to go and do some dental work for the people down there.”

Enter Dr. Byron McKnight, who had been a part of some local dental outreach projects in the past but had wanted to do more on a larger scale. “When Robert told me about the opportunity to help do dental work in Guatemala I got really excited about it,” he said. “It really seemed like it was more of a calling than it was anything else.” Particularly considering that McKnight’s in-laws grew up in Guatemala.

“My wife’s parents were raised in Guatemala, and my wife and I both speak Spanish,” he said. “This was my second time down there and we’re starting to get to know some people there.” The second trip, taken this past summer, was a lot less strenuous than McKnight’s first trip to Guatemala last year.

“Last year I was the only one doing all the dental work,” he said. “My wife, Bibi, assisted me and we wanted to see as many people as we could because many people there had never been to a dentist before and we knew it might be a while before we got back there.”

Many of McKnight’s patients had walked several miles and had waited many hours to get dental work done, McKnight said.

“We had one patient who walked 10 miles to have her teeth worked on and they were so glad to see us,” he said. “Another man waited seven or eight hours on a bench. Just sat there until we could get to him and when we did, he came over and just shook my hand and told me how much he appreciated it.”

McKnight said this second trip was a lot more enjoyable because another dentist went with him. “With the two of us there it was a lot better,” he said. “The first year I was there I was working 12- and 14-hour days and was just exhausted. This time, the other dentist and I were working regular eight-hour days and we got a chance to do a lot of sightseeing and have some fun.”

McKnight said that he is not really the great humanitarian that many of his friends and colleagues say he is.

“When people find out that I went to Guatemala to do this they always tell me what a wonderful person I am and how nice I must be and all of that,” he said. “But it’s really a lot of fun. It really doesn’t take the great sacrifice that people think it does. My airfare and meals are all paid for and we have some great cooks at the clinic. Plus, the country is just beautiful and the people are so warm and friendly. Sure, I did work hard while I was down there but I also had a lot of fun. We hope to take more dentists down there and go down there more regularly. We’re always looking for more dentists to help out.”

The dentists are sponsored through a mission based in Houston. Those who would like more information about how they can help the people of Guatemala through the Sociedad San Martin de Porres Medical Mission to Latin America can contact the mission headquarters in Houston at (713) 880-3337.

Dental news

For Release August 2, 1997

Texas Dentist Receives AGD Mastership Award

CHICAGO—Byron McKnight, D.D.S., received the Academy of General Dentistry’s (AGD) prestigious Mastership award during the convocation ceremony at the Academy’s 45th annual meeting, Aug. 2, in Chicago.

The Academy of General Dentistry is an international organization of 35,000 general dentists committed to continuing dental education in order to provide the best possible care to their patients. To earn the Mastership award, AGD dentists must first acquire AGD Fellowship status by passing an exam and completing 500 continuing education course hours within 10 years. Master must then complete 600 additional hours, 400 of which must be fulfilled through “hands-on” courses.

Dr. McKnight graduated from the Baylor University College of Dentistry in 1974. He has practiced in Mesquite since 1981.

Dr. McKnight is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry, the American Dental Association, the Texas Dental Association, the Dallas County Dental Society, the North Dallas Implant Study Club, the American Orthodontic Society and is an L.D. Pankey Alumni. He is actively involved with the Rotary International and youth athletics. Dr. McKnight resides in Mesquite with his wife Bibi, and their four kids: Michael Anne, Matt, Mitch, and Mark.

Dental Day assists many in need

By James Griffin

January 2, 2009

Several groups worked together for the benefit of Mesquite and East Dallas area community members in need at a special “Dental Day” on Dec. 12. Meeting at the Mesquite offices of Dr. Byron McKnight and Dr. Ken Taylor, who donated their facility for the day, were a total of eight dentists, three hygienists and 30 volunteers. In a very successful effort, this team served 45 patients, providing them with free dental services that would normally have been worth a total of $34,000.

Coming together for the event were Mission East Dallas, which is a local indigent care facility, the International Team of Implantology and various dentists, hygienists, assistants and volunteer staff. Precision Prosthetics, a lab in Denton, was also onsite to do partials, dentures and other prosthetic services. Also participating with volunteers or supporting the event through donating funds to underwrite the costs of supplies and lab fees were the Mesquite Rotary Club, Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church and St. Pius X Catholic Church.

In addition, a local elementary school brought some of their students with special needs over for treatment during the Dental Day event, and the Mesquite Panera Bread and Chick-fil-A restaurants donated meals to support the dental personnel and volunteers. Dental Day dealth with an existing patient backlog, enabling the Mission East Dallas Clinic to again accept new patients, and provided life-changing care to many patients in need.
James Griffin is publicity chairman for the Mesquite Rotary Club

Dentist Sinks His Teeth Into Volunteerism Dr. Byron McKnight takes a bite out of life at every turn. He is an avid cyclist who stays in shape by riding 100 or so miles at a pop while some of his colleagues leisurely play 18 holes of golf. He’s spent half of his 50 years building one of the leading dental practices in Mesquite. And he donates countless hours to making sure that economically disadvantaged individuals in East Dallas County – as well as poverty-stricken people in other parts of the world – have access to quality dental care... read more

Local Dentist Dr. Byron McKnight Receives Esteemed Lifelong Learning and Service Recognition Award from the Academy of General Dentistry

Austin (August 21, 2009) – The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) is pleased to announce that Byron McKnight, DDS, of Mesquite, Texas, received the prestigious Lifelong Learning and Service Recognition (LLSR) award during the AGD’s Convocation ceremony, a commencement celebration that recognizes AGD member’s commitment to excellence in dental education. Held at the AGD’s Annual Meeting & Exhibits on July 11 in Baltimore, Md., Dr. McKnight accepted this award along with only five other Texas dentists.

In acquiring this prestigious accolade, awardees must log over 1,600 hours of continuing dental education in the 16 disciplines of dentistry, including 400 hours dedicated to practicing hands-on skills and techniques and participate in at least 100 hours of dental-related community service. The LLSR Award was created to recognize the achievements of those AGD members who clearly recognize the professional obligation to remain current in their profession and to create an example so that each member of the dental profession never loses sight of this obligation. Achieving the LLSR from the AGD tells colleagues and patients of your continued commitment to lifelong learning and quality patient care.

Dr. McKnight is a 1981 graduate of the Baylor College of Dentistry. During his post doctoral career, he has accumulated over 1,900 hours of continuing education with a focus on cosmetic dentistry, advanced reconstruction, TMJ and facial pain. Along with his Fellowship and Mastership in the AGD, Dr. McKnight has also earned his fellowship in the International College of Dentists, American College of Dentists and the Academy of Dentistry International.

Dr. McKnight is an active participant in organized dentistry. In addition to holding leadership positions with the Texas AGD, Dr. McKnight is a member of the ADA and local AGD and ADA components. He is also active in his community serving on the Board of Directors for the Mesquite Rotary Club, Healthcare International Ministries, and is the founder of the Mission East Dental Clinic in east Dallas. Dr. McKnight is active outside the U.S. as well; he is the founder of the St. Martin de Porres Indigent Dental Clinic and the Serving Him Dental Clinic, both are located in Guatemala.

Dr. McKnight has been married to his wife, Bibi, for 30 years and has four children, Michael, 26; Matt, 24; Mitch, 22; and Mark, 21.

The AGD is a professional association of more than 35,000 general dentists dedicated to staying up-to-date in the profession through continuing education. Founded in 1952, the AGD has grown to become the world’s second largest dental association, which is the only association that exclusively represents the needs and interests of general dentists.