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Current news and articles related to our practice and dentistry.

  FROM Today's Sunbeam covering South Jersey and Salem County, tsnews@sjnewsco.com

Jacob Bagley, Elmer dentist, volunteers for children in Israel Sunday, January 31, 2010


    Elmer dentist Jacob Bagley has volunteered overseas before, helping needy Christian, Palestinian, Jewish, and Russian children. This year, he was deeply moved when he found himself working with Ethiopian children.  Bagley volunteered for DVI, Dental Volunteers for Israel, an organization serving the neediest children. The clinic is located in a quiet Jerusalem neighborhood.
DVI was created in 1980 by Holocaust survivor Trudi Birger. She saw the need for DVI as dental care is not paid for by a national plan like health care is. Since then, more than 4,500 dentists from around the world have offered their time to help more than 20,000 children in Jerusalem with their dental needs, according to the group Web site. Each month, the volunteer dentists perform between 1,000 and 1,200 treatments for children ages 5 through 1  DVI was created in 1980 by Holocaust survivor Trudi Birger. She saw the need for DVI as dental care is not paid for by a national plan like health care is. Since then, more than 4,500 dentists from around the world have offered their time to help more than 20,000 children in Jerusalem with their dental needs, according to the group Web site. Each month, the volunteer dentists perform between 1,000 and 1,200 treatments for children ages 5 through 18.On any given day, the clinic treats 100 to 150 children. This is often the only dental care they receive and most suffer severe gum disease and high levels of tooth decay due to poor diet and a lack of good hygiene habits.

    DVI was created in 1980 by Holocaust survivor Trudi Birger. She saw the need for DVI as dental care is not paid for by a national plan like health care is. Since then, more than 4,500 dentists from around the world have offered their time to help more than 20,000 children in Jerusalem with their dental needs, according to the group Web site. Each month, the volunteer dentists perform between 1,000 and 1,200 treatments for children ages 5 through 18.All dentists are volunteers and supplies are donated, enabling the clinic to offer world-class care for free. On any given day, the clinic treats 100 to 150 children. This is often the only dental care they receive and most suffer severe gum disease and high levels of tooth decay due to poor diet and a lack of good hygiene habits.

    All dentists are volunteers and supplies are donated, enabling the clinic to offer world-class care for free. Bagley worked alongside dentists from South Africa, Holland, Michigan, and Texas. The experience makes such an impression that many volunteers return year after year.

    "I've volunteered in Israel many times but always find myself moved in a different way each year," said Bagley. "This year, I met many Ethiopian families and was deeply touched by the beautiful faces and historic struggles." In the past, Ethiopia forbade the practice of Judaism and forced conscription at age 12, often severing ties between Jewish boys and their parents. In 1984 and 1991, two famous airlifts ( "Operation Moses" and "Operation Solomfile:///Users/Candace/Desktop/IMG_1654.JPGon") rescued most of the Jewish Ethiopian community and relocating them to Israel. This modern day exodus included more than 22,000 people (including two new souls born in flight). Since the Ethiopians arrived without job skills and limited ability with the Hebrew language, their absorption into modern Israeli society has been slow. More than 90 percent of employed Ethiopian immigrants work in low-paying manual labor and minimum wage positions and 72 percent of Ethiopian children live in households below the poverty line.

    "This is my way of giving back and contributing to those in need," Bagley said. "I also hope I can contribute toward understanding and changing views, even a tiny bit. "I learned about the Ethiopian community seeing their difficulties first hand," he added. "Who knows. Having spent time with many of our volunteers, maybe the Palestinian children will look at Americans a little differently."

    Some of the children draw pictures for Bagley to show their appreciation. Those pictures now hang on the walls of his Elmer practice. One child drew a picture of his most recent visit with the caption in Arabic - "I use to be afraid of the dentist, I'm not afraid of the dentist anymore." Dr. Bagley is already scheduled to volunteer next December and urges other area dentists to consider joining him.

    For additional information, he can be reached at his new office, across from South Jersey Healthcare-Elmer Hospital at 508 Front St., by calling (856) 358-2626 or visiting www.BagleyDentist.com.

FROM Elmer Times covering Elmer and Salem County

 New Expanded Location for Bagley Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, Thursday, August 13, 2009 

While Bagley Family & Cosmetic Dentistry was celebrating 20 years in Elmer, they were desperately looking for a way to expand office space.  So when local developer Brian Fox approached them with a potential new site in the spring of 2008, Dr. Jacob Bagley jumped at the chance. The new location was perfect at 508 Front Street in Elmer, directly across the street from South Jersey Hospital.

Then came the economic crash and businesses, including dental practices, were feeling the pain.  For dentists it was like pulling teeth as laid off workers lost their health insurance and other employed workers lost benefits. Despite the economy, Dr. Bagley was determined to move ahead. “Based on my experience, I had to believe better times were ahead.”

During the winter of 2009, the Front Street property was gutted and redesigned to accommodate Bagley’s state-of-the-art dental practice.  The modern design allows for more procedure rooms (“operatories”) and hygiene rooms, as well as technological enhancements.

Dr. Bagley used the relocation as an opportunity to support other local businesses, feeling it would have an even greater impact during the economic slowdown. From loans to furniture, signs to stationary, his dental practice purchased locally. Mr. Fox, the developer, also made a point of hiring local contractors for construction, electrical, and plumbing. (It’s not surprising that both businessmen are involved in the newly forming Elmer Pittsgrove Business Association.)

The gamble, despite the somber economic outlook paid off. Since the late spring move, more staff has been hired and the location’s heightened visibility has generated a positive buzz. The practice saw more new patients by mid-2009 than it had seen for all of 2008.

The community has benefited too. The completely refurbished property on Front Street makes a nice addition to the local landscape.  For more information Dr. Bagley can be reached at 856-358-2626 or www.BagleyDentist.com.

 Thanks to everyone who participated and congratulations to our raffle winners; Jacob, Ben & Devon. See the photos on our Facebook page. (click here)

 

FROM Elmer Times covering Elmer and Salem County, NJ

 Bagley Back to School Event, Thursday, August 6, 2009 

 

Bagley Family & Cosmetic Dentistry is holding its first ever "Back to School Event" on Tuesday, August 25th from 9:00 - 6:00 pm. Special scheduling will enable families to get in and out quickly so every child can start the school year right. 

When preparing for a new school year, the American Dental Association recommends a dental examination as part of routine back-to-school health check-ups and immunizations. They believe every child should arrive on the first day of school healthy and ready to learn.  Unfortunately, more than half of all school age children have at least one cavity meeding attention. The Bagley Back to School Event is the perfect opportunity to get that check up before the year begins.

To keep everyone entertained, the event will offer fun activities and prizes. Every Back to School Event patient is automatically entered in a raffle drawing for a free iPod shuffle, a back pack filled with school supplies, or a $20 Target gift card.

Bagley Family & Cosmetic Dentistry is at their new location at 508 Front Street in Elmer, directly across from SJ Hospital. They urge parents to call soon as appointments are filling fast.  New patients will be accepted with first prioroty given to existing patients.  For more information call 856-358-2626 or visit online at www.BagleyDentist.com.

 

 FROM Today's Sunbeam covering Salem County, NJ

Elmer dentist helps Israelis

Saturday, December 13, 2008 By Tracy Wiggins (tsnews@sjnewsco.com)

   A bright, beautiful smile is something many people take for granted. Others, especially those in need, see healthy teeth as a gift.

    Dr. Jacob Bagley, D.D.S. believes giving this gift to hundreds of children in Jerusalem is a privilege he has been able to help deliver. In November, Bagley left his Elmer practice to spend about two weeks in Jerusalem volunteering his dental skills to underprivileged children from ages 5 to 18.

    He was part of the non-profit organization Dental Volunteers for Israel. This group offers free dental care for children of Jerusalem.

    "This was an immensely fulfilling experience," Bagley said. "I was working with dentists from the UK, the U.S. and Norway, and we knew we were making a difference. These children have nothing. The children and their parents couldn't say thank you enough."

    DVI was created in 1980 by Holocaust survivor Trudi Birger. She saw the need for DVI as dental care is not paid for by a national plan like health care is. Since then, more than 4,500 dentists from around the world have offered their time to help about 20,000 children in Jerusalem with their dental needs, according to the group Web site. Each month, the volunteer dentists perform between 1,000 and 1,200 treatments.

    "I may not be able to be a big philanthropist, but I can give my time and skills to make a difference, in this case for small kids," Bagley said.

    Volunteering is not a new activity for Bagley. He had volunteered for a similar organization in the 1980s. But then the responsibilities of a growing family and practice postponed his ability to volunteer on this level. But once he was able to give his time again, he decided to get involved with DVI.

    Bagley said during his time in Jerusalem, he worked with an "interesting mix of volunteers." He said he worked with dentists from Norway, England and Detroit. But the differences in nationality have no impact on the work these volunteer dentists are doing, Bagley said.

    "All the barriers fall apart, all the politics melt away when we walk into the clinic," Bagley said.And DVI doesn't just attract an eclectic mix of dentist. It also serves a variety of people as well. Bagley said the clinic treats children from several religious and ethnic backgrounds including Jewish, Palestinian, Russian and Ethiopian.

    All the dentists receive in return for their time is internal gratification and gratitude from their patients. Bagley said some of the children drew pictures for him to show their appreciation. Those pictures now hang on the walls of his Elmer practice.

    Though Bagley has several major events over the next several months, including moving his current practice to a new, bigger building near South Jersey Healthcare-Elmer Hospital, he plans to continue being a volunteer for DVI.

    "It was so gratifying for me, the day I left the clinic, I signed on to come back next year," Bagley said.

Bagley said he was happy to be able to volunteer in such a unique way, but says anyone can volunteer. With a sense of caring, understanding, selflessness and humility, being a volunteer is an immensely rewarding activity.

    "I challenge anyone who has the time or the skills to do something, to think about volunteering where there really is a need," Bagley said.

    For more information on Dental Volunteers for Israel, contact Bagley at his practice at 358-2626 or www.bagleydentist.com or DVI at www.dental-dvi.co.il/.