LIHUE — David J. Silva of Kapaa was ecstatic on Wednesday. “When I got the call, I was so happy, I was yelling and almost jumping up and down,” Silva said while waiting for his appointment at Dr. Joseph Chu’s
LIHUE — David J. Silva of Kapaa was ecstatic on Wednesday.
“When I got the call, I was so happy, I was yelling and almost jumping up and down,” Silva said while waiting for his appointment at Dr. Joseph Chu’s office. “I need a root canal and at other places, you need to pay everything up front. On top of that, I get a specialist.”
Silva said most people are afraid of dentists and either don’t show up, or cancel their appointments.
“Not me,” he said. “I’m happy to be here.”
Silva, a victim of a shark attack in 1993, said when he was being treated for the shark bite, they told him he would never walk again.
“I had to walk,” Silva said. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here for my appointment.”
Silva was one of eight patients who were the beneficiaries of Chu’s free dental day program for Valentine’s Day.
The Honolulu-based dentist, who splits time on Kauai, has provided the service for two years now.
“Time really flies,” Chu said. “This is the second time we’re doing this free dental day, and it seems like we did the first one just yesterday.”
Chu said patients are selected from the medical clinics in Kapaa and Waimea, four from each clinic.
Silva said he was recommended by Hoola Lahui.
“This is my first time doing something like this,” Silva said. “Hoola Lahui truly takes care of the people of Kauai.
I just started a job, and when this opportunity came up, I asked my boss who said it was all right to have this taken care of.”
Chu, who has been practicing on Kauai for about four years, said he can’t place a value on the amount of service provided during the free dental day program.
“We want to try to do what we can to help the people of Kauai,” Chu said. “We are fortunate to be here. Our staff of four girls are compensated for their time during the free dental day. Our patients leave here following free service and better oral health.”
• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
