Gainesville dentists 'Give Kids a Smile'

GAINESVILLE - An estimated 250 children from underserved families received free dental work Friday thanks to the American Dental Association's 10th Annual 'Give Kids a Smile' Program.

Several local dentists, hygienists, assistants and other volunteers were very busy according to Pediatric Dentist Dr. Ryan Vaughn.

"We're trying to see as many as we can, as many children from Gainesville City and Hall County schools that we can," Dr. Vaughn said.

Dr. Heather McGee and Bennett Family Dentistry, also on Sherwood Park Drive, served the children, identified by Gainesville and Hall County Schools.

"We needed to expand because last year we are at our maximum just seeing 150 kids and we needed the extra offices," Vaughn said. "We're trying to do whatever we can to get the kids out of pain, that's our first and foremost goal. We're doing cleanings and sealings, preventive work as well, but if they have abscesses we're extracting teeth as well to try to give the kids relief."

Vaughn estimates that last year his office did $27,000 in free dental work but it would be a while before this year's dental care savings to parents would be tallied up.

Jessica Mote watched as her eight year old son Gabriel received free dental care including four extractions, a cleaning and sealing.

"It's good for people who are not able to get dentistry done for their kids," she said. "They're not able to have insurance, and I'm glad they were able to do it."

Last year, more than 44,800 dental team members nationwide participated in Give Kids a Smile. This event is by appointment only and is not open to public. Nearly one in four children, aged two to 11 years old, have untreated cavities in their baby teeth, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many children enrolled in Medicaid receive no dental services throughout the year.

In addition to providing free child dental service, Give Kids A Smile provides free dental services to local, qualifying children, it raises awareness of the epidemic of untreated dental disease occurring here and across the country.

It also raises awareness of the need to build local public and private partnerships to increase access to oral health care.