Children between the ages of one and ten years from local low-income families were given free dental services such as screenings, cleanings and fluoride treatments at the HealthFirst Family Care Center on February 4, 2011 as part of national Give Kids a Smile day. Stuart Levine, DDS and Dena Babin, DDS of the Truesdale Clinic teamed up with Bristol Community College (BCC) students to donate their time and professional services to provide care to these children. The program enhances the oral health of needy children and help disadvantaged families get the dental care that is needed for their family. The program is sponsored by the American Dental Association (ADA) to provide care and raise awareness of the importance of access to dental care for poor children. Nearly one in four children, aged two to 11 years old has untreated cavities in their baby teeth, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Click here for photos of last year's event. For more information about services offered by HealthFirst, call Paula Harrison at 774-627-1204.
 

(Top row, left and center) Dena Babin, DDS, of the Truesdale Clinic and Mikayla Grimes, BCC dental hygiene student examine five-year-old Gabriella Dujela's teeth on Give Kids A Smile Day at the HealthFirst dental clinic. (Top row, right) Gabriella's mom, Francia Rojas, brings her camera into the room to take a picture of her daughter. (Middle row, center) Physician Assistant Stephanie Lee congratulates Gabriella for being so brave. (Middle row, right) Outreach Parent Coordinator Betty Nunes greets children dressed as the Tooth Fairy to relieve their fears. (Bottom row, left) BCC dental students Jessica Botelho, Amanda Leal and Jennifer Geraldes are on hand to entertain the children with puppets. (Bottom row, center) Staff member Natiuta Theard offers Gabriella and her brother, John Paul, some stickers for their bravery. (Bottom row, right) Stuart Levine, DDS, Dena Babin, and Mikayla Grimes pose for a photo.