Economy brings hundreds to Pasco office for free dental work

For the 10th consecutive year, New Port Richey dentist Vincent Monticciolo is delving into mouths of people who normally can't afford his services.

Monticciolo Family and Sedation Dentistry, 4530 Grand Blvd., hopes to treat 500 people between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. today.

Patients began lining up Thursday outside the office for free extractions, fillings or cleanings as part of Monticciolo's Dentistry From The Heart movement.

"Unfortunately, with the need and the economic conditions out there, it is getting bigger and bigger - more people that need our care," Monticciolo said.

Judy Berens and Linda Gibson were the first in line. Berens, who has come for a free dental exam for six years, claimed her spot at 9 a.m. Thursday to get a filling or extraction.

She is unemployed and living on disability, according to a dental office news release. She cannot afford dental insurance and depends on Dentistry From The Heart to repair her ongoing dental problems.

Gibson, who is returning for the third year, had hopes of having her broken teeth pulled. She is a retired Air Force veteran living on disability, the office said.

Although Gibson receives medical care through the Department of Veterans Affairs, he does not have dental coverage or the means to pay for dental insurance.

Monticciolo began Dentistry From The Heart in 2001 as a way of treating people who don't have dental insurance or who otherwise couldn't afford a trip to the dentist.

Dentistry From The Heart is a registered national nonprofit organization incorporated five years ago. Participating dentists across the nation have given away as much as $5.5 million in free dentistry and helped more than 25,000 patients.

Treatment at Monticciolo's office is on a first-come, first-served basis. In recent years, people seeking free treatment have camped out in the parking lot to get in. This year, Monticciolo has help from James Drake, a dentist who flew in from Idaho.

He said he was happy to help and paid his own way to see how such an undertaking is managed.

"It really gives back to the community," Drake said.

There is no income threshold to receive treatment, and services are limited to cleanings, fillings and extractions. Patients must be 18 or older.

Among the several hundred people waiting, Joshua McNear, of Clearwater, was near the front of the line. He was there to get a wisdom tooth pulled.

Rose Hall of New Port Richey camped out, playing cards all night.

"I had to have a lot of dental work done," she said, "and I just couldn't afford it at the time, so this is a good day for me."

She's been waiting for about six months. She just didn't have the cash.

Monticciolo said he recognizes that.

"We've had a lot of help and a lot of volunteers and a lot of people that really do want to give back," he said.

"The need is getting greater, and the conditions are getting worse. A lot of people have lost their jobs or they can't afford the dental insurance or they can't afford even their portions, so they let it go for a longer period of time so were seeing worse conditions, more infections, things of that sort."