Arkansas Family Dental hosted its annual free Dental Day event on Friday morning, providing teeth cleanings, extractions, and cavity fillings.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Despite decades of research supporting the connection between dental hygiene and overall health, many Arkansans shy away from the dentist.
“That’s why I don’t have my teeth cleaned, because last time I had my teeth cleaned, I had a needle stuck in my… Yeah, it was just a whole bunch that was going on in my mouth,” described Tyler Mitchell.
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Fear, coupled with rising living costs, prevents many people from getting the care they need.
However, one dental clinic in Little Rock is doing what it can to help.
Arkansas Family Dental hosted its annual Dental Day on Friday morning, providing free teeth cleanings, extractions and cavity fillings.
The services were open to the public, not just current clients, with some attendees getting in line as early as 8:00 p.m. the night before.
“I haven’t had my teeth cleaned in a while, so this was a great experience,” Mitchell said after traveling from Jonesboro for the service. “They got me in, got me real comfortable.”
Clinic leaders said they gave away more than $200,000 worth of free dental care during last year’s Dental Day.
This year, they hope to beat that amount.
“Arkansas ranks at the bottom of the funnel when it comes to oral health in this country, and a lot of people are not insured,” Richard Robinson, a dental hygienist at Arkansas Family Dental, said. “This is important not only to bring to Little Rock, but bring to the entire state.”
Along with dental care, the event included free coffee and snacks donated by Starbucks Central Arkansas, a DJ with games and a barber.
“Patients are coming out and sitting here for a long period of time,” Robinson said. “We just want to make sure that we’re providing extra additions for them while they’re having a long wait.”
The event was made possible with the help of private donors and more than 80 volunteers, including students from the UAMS Dental Hygiene School.
Clinic leaders said that since the event started in 2018, they’ve provided nearly $1 million in free dental care.