About 70 children had reason to smile recently when the Suncoast Community Health Center, the Hillsborough County Dental Association and More Health Inc. hosted a day of free services for the area's neediest.
Give Kids A Smile is part of an annual initiative of the American Dental Association, held every February throughout the country to help provide dental care to poor children and to raise awareness about the importance of dental health.
Fifteen area dentists, hygienists and students from Hillsborough Community College volunteered their time and services on Feb. 3 to help uninsured children between 2 and 17. Each received free screenings, treatment and tips on taking care of their teeth.
"We help children whose families are 200 percent below the poverty level," said Reza Iranmanesh, a dentist and board member with the Hillsborough County Dental Association. "Some may be here illegally, but that's not a factor in providing care.
"We do this to keep them out of the emergency room, and that saves taxpayers in the long run. Prevention is what we are working on."
The program was so popular that more than 20 children had to be turned away, said Kelli Johnson, dental program manager at the community center.
"There simply isn't enough time in the day to drill our way out of the problem," she said.
More than $60,000 in services were provided at the event, said Dr. Natalie Carr of the dental association.
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