The Dental Associates at Walden Woods are ready to bring smiles to Plant City residents.
The team is participating in its first Free Dentistry Day from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 22, at 512 E. Alexander St. Services will be available for both children and adults.
“Dr. Gutierrez wanted to get together and do something,” administrator Jean Ann Davenport said. “We just wanted to give back to the community.”
Dr. Ramon Gutierrez and Dr. Helen Hoveida have joined forces with with Dr. Jennifer Marino, from Family Dental at Lakeside Village, in Lakeland; Dr. Chris Nowacki, from SmileWright, in Brandon; and Dr. Johella Liguori, from Armenia Family Dental, in Tampa.
“Now more than ever, there are people in Plant City who need dental services but have no means to afford them — whether they’re out of a job, or just don’t have dental insurance,” Gutierrez said. “This event is a great opportunity for us to share our time and resources with those less fortunate and give back to the community we serve.”
Although tooth decay is easily preventable, from 2007 to 2010, 15.6% of children ages 6 to 19 had untreated tooth decay and from 2005 to 2008, 23.7% of adults ages 20 to 64 had untreated tooth decay, according to the Center for Disease Control.
“Our team is committed to lifetime dental care, because good oral health is integral to overall health,” Hoveida said. “By participating in this program, our goal is to engage patients and encourage them to adopt an ongoing oral care program and a lifelong regimen of preventative care.”
A choice of one free extraction or filling for adults and sealant or cleaning for children up to age 12 will be given on Free Dentistry Day.
Free Dentistry Day is part of a larger movement that has organized dentists throughout the United States to offer free care.
Last year, more than 2,500 patients were given free dental care and more than $1 million in free dentistry was provided by the dentists and teams that participated.
The Dental Associates at Walden Woods hope to continue participating annually. The team is hoping to help at least 100 people.
“We chose November because of Thanksgiving,” Davenport said. “We wanted to show we were thankful for our community.”
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
FREE DENTISTRY DAY
WHEN: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 22
WHERE: Dental Associates at Walden Woods, 512 E. Alexander St.
PHONE: (813) 752-3030
WEBSITES: dentalassociatesatwaldenwoods.com or freedentistryday.org
HOW TO PREVENT TOOTH DECAY
A dental cavity is a hole in a tooth. The hole is formed by certain types of bacteria that use sugars in food to make acids. Over time, the acids eat away at the enamel, or hard outer surface of the tooth.
Minerals in the saliva, such as calcium and phosphate, plus fluoride help repair enamel by replacing minerals lost during the everyday acid attack.
But when a tooth is exposed to acid more frequently, enamel can lose too many minerals. Over time, the enamel is weakened and destroyed, forming a cavity. The cavity is permanent damage a dentist has to repair with a filling.
Fluoride is one way to prevent cavities. About 74% of Americans are served by a community water supply system that has fluoride. Plant City’s water has fluoride. Toothpaste also contains fluoride.
Diet is also important in preventing a cavity. Foods high in sugars and starches lead to tooth decay. Limit between meal snacks. This gives teeth time to repair themselves. Limit candy, cookies, soda and other sugary drinks, such as fruit juice. Don’t drink or eat anything with sugar in it after bedtime toothbrushing.
And always brush your teeth two times per day.