If an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, then Dr. Raj Dhiman is on the right track. But in the local dentist’s case, a pound of candy is worth exactly five dollars which will go a long way towards prevention. Of tooth decay, that is.
For every pound of Halloween candy the kids bring in after October 31, Riverside Dental in Ladner Village will pay five dollars, with $2.50 of that donated to the Delta Hospital Foundation; the other half will be pocketed by the youngsters. Ladner Safeway has donated the family dental practice a weigh scale the kids can use to see exactly how much they have donated.
All in the name of cavity prevention, Dr. Dhiman hopes to send a positive message to the kids and encourage fewer sugary sweets. All candy brought into the office will be donated to lower mainland food banks which will distribute it to kids that may not have the opportunity to get out trick or treating.
“We want to promote oral health at an early age, and Halloween is a really good time to think about it”, Dhiman says. Dhiman hopes parents will help moderate their kids consumption over Halloween and consider bringing a little of the loot into his office. He’s also hoping their ‘cash for candy’ campaign catches on and in the end he is able to make a sizable donation to help support Delta Hospital.
Riverside Dental is located at 4977 Trennant at Elliot and candy can be dropped off any time after Halloween during his office hours of 8 to 4:30 pm Monday and Thursday, 10 to 7 pm Tuesday and 9 to 6pm Wednesday.
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