Someone You Should Know: Dentist Who Helps Ex-Offenders
JOHNSBURG, Ill. (CBS) – He takes time from a busy dental practice to volunteer his time to treat ex-offenders at no cost.
CBS 2's Harry Porterfield says this good-hearted dentist is someone you should know.
Meet Dr. Conrad Mazeski, who maintains a thriving practice in Johnsburg, a community in the Fox River Valley region.
Over the past few years he has donated his services to men who have rehabilitated themselves from run-ins with the law, who have been homeless and who are associated with Koinonia House in Wheaton.
Brad Burke is one of those patients.
"I think he's a great man," Burke says. "He's got a great heart. He helps out a lot of guys such as myself that can't afford medical help and need medical help. I wish there were more people like him."
Mazeski has treated 17 patients who have been transported from Wheaton to Johnsburg for dental work. Sometimes their condition requires expensive crowns and dentures. Even so, Mazeski provides the service free of charge.
"Many of them have actually had to have root canals done and extractions. They've had a lot of oral infections, so we've been able to take care of that," he says.
George Salter is the disciple resident director of Koinonia House, which he describes as a post-prison ministry. He provides the transportation.
"What they're providing is love, and they'r providing a service and their expertise that is really needed for the man coming out," Salter says.
Mazeski will tell you that his goal is to give each man the nicest smile they can possibly have.
"Sometimes they can literally have tears in their eye because they love what they see now," he says. "That gives me a tremendous amount of satisfaction."
