Free dental care offered through 'Give Kids a Smile'

Few things are more endearing than a child's smile, and Melanie Satterfield and her staff at Oberlin Family Dental want to make sure area children are just as pleased to smile.

For the third consecutive year, Satterfield and her staff are participating in the American Dental Association's "Give Kids a Smile" program. The program offers dental care free of charge during the month of February for school age children who do not have dental insurance or the means to afford dental care.

"We did it last year, and we did it the year before," Satterfield said. "We basically help children who don't have insurance and have dental needs. We clean them, we do fillings, do education on how to take care of their teeth, all free in the month of February."

She said in the first two years she worked on the children only on Fridays in February, when her office is normally closed. She said she saw about 20 children last year.

"Last February we just did Fridays," she said. "But this year we're incorporating them in with our other patients. And this year (my staff) are helping me. Last year it was just me on my own, but with them helping me we should be able to see a lot more patients."

She said her dental supplies distributor, Henry Schein Dental, is helping as well. The company representative has donated toothbrushes, toothpaste, and fluoride rinse for Satterfield to give to the children, also free of charge.

Unfortunately, she said as of Wednesday last week she had no children sign up for appointments. Parents and guardians can make appointments for their children during the month of February by calling the office at 775-SMILE (775-7645).