Update :

Illinois Dental Office Puts a New Twist on Raising Funds for a Worthy Cause: Collecting Dental Scraps
by Anonymous

BROOKFIELD, IL— A local dentist office has created a whole new way of raising funds for a worthy cause: replacing dental fillings.

Dr. James L. Bergschneider and Dr. Michael Wince of Manus Dental’s Brookfield, Ill. office have been collecting dental scraps – gold, silver, and palladium materials – from patient’s mouths for the past 12 months for what they call the "Sister Margaret Fund."

The scraps, which together weighed half a pound, were sent to a Pennsylvania metals refinery, which paid $267 for the materials. When refined, these materials totaled about one half ounce of precious metal.

Dr. Bergschneider, who was raised in Brookfield and who has run his dental practice in the town since 1970, came up with the idea of raising the funds using refinery proceeds when he heard about a local nun, Sister Margaret Halligan’s efforts to help less fortunate people at her Brookfield-based Sunnyside Place Food Pantry.

"Sister Margaret has been a big part of this community for a long time and has helped a lot of people and I thought that this was a good way to help her cause," said Bergschneider.

Most people have no idea that their old fillings, bridges, and crowns are valuable. Materials recovered from one person’s mouth don’t amount to much, but when combined with many other patients’ materials, the metals can become very valuable. With Gold and Palladium prices currently at around $350 an ounce on the New York Stock Exchange, the value of the materials can add up. The refined product goes right back out into market place, according to Josh Garfield, Marketing Manager of Garfield Refining Company in Philadelphia, Penn. The materials are used for a diverse range of products, from consumer products, such as jewelry and electronics, to automotives to industrials.

Manus Health Systems Inc., a healthcare services company that has provided management support for Dr. Bergschneider’s dental practice since 2000, matched the payment Philadelphia-based Garfield Refining Company made, making for a total contribution of $534 to the Sister Margaret fund.

"Sister Margaret runs a very important community organization. We felt that it was important to match the effort that patients, Dr. Bergschneider and Dr. Wince were putting in to raising funds by matching those funds," said E.F. (Skip) Heizer, CEO of Manus Health.

Sister Margaret’s operation, which she began in 1980 from 4-drawer file cabinet in her St. Barbara Parish office, has grown over the years to serve 120 families from its current three-room location at 4039 Sunnyside in Brookfield.

"There are all different kinds of people who come here. There are some single folks who have special needs—maybe they’re on disability or maybe they’re just having a hard time. Some are homeless. Many are working and have families. We give the homeless bagged lunches and some basic medications. Families come in once a month and get about $100 worth of groceries. We’re kind of fussy about giving people a balanced variety of food," said Halligan, who turns 75 this week.

Like Dr. Bergschneider, Halligan grew up in the area and feels a commitment to its people. Halligan said that she doesn’t often get cash donations and that those help her customize her services for those with special needs, such as allergies or diabetes.

"It helps so much to have a financial donation. When I get one, I think great; it’s enough for a month’s rent. Most of the donations that we get are in-kind. So, a cash donation really allows us to pick up some special items that cost money," said Halligan.

Bergschneider and Wince plan to continue collecting for the Sister Margaret fund by continuing to give patients the option to donate their dental materials. In addition, individuals can donate other valuable metals, such as old jewelry, to the fund by dropping them off at their office, located at 8908 Ogden Avenue in Brookfield.

"I hope that this contribution allows sister Margaret to continue doing the work that she’s doing or even expand the reach that she has I kind of hope that I am the beginning of a new trend I would hope that my colleagues would be willing to do this as well." said Bergschneider.

To contribute old jewelry or other valuable materials to the Sister Margaret Fund or to get more information, call Wanda Marinic at 847-283-8700, ext. 207.