NORTH COAST, Calif. – To celebrate National Children’s Dental Health Month in February, MCHC Health Centers continued its annual tradition of participating in Give Kids a Smile Day.

On the first Saturday of February, dental employees volunteered to provide free dental care to 20 children who could not otherwise afford it.

“We had yet another successful year of giving back to our community,” said Dental Manager Margo Arellano. “Six dentists and 21 dental staff members came in on their day off to provide more than $10,000 worth of free care.” The team provided exams, x-rays, fillings, extractions, sealants, and more.

By visiting a dentist regularly starting at age 1, children are more likely to maintain good oral health, which helps ensure the ability communicate properly, to get good nutrition, and to avoid the embarrassment that can come from speech impediments or physical deformities.

Dental Director Dr. Doug Lewis thanked the dentists and other employees who supported the event, including the patient service representatives, dental assistants and sterile techs who scheduled the patients, prepared the equipment, set up the rooms, and then cleaned up after the event was finished.

Give Kids a Smile Day is a national event in which thousands of dentists and their teams provide free oral healthcare services to children from low-income families. In February and throughout the year, MCHC Health Centers provides dental care to children.

For more information, call 707-468-1010.

MCHC Health Centers is a local, non-profit, federally qualified health center offering medical, dental and behavioral health care to people in Lake and Mendocino counties.