Tampa Bay residents in need of dental care will have the opportunity to receive free services at Riverview Smiles Dental on Saturday, Sept. 18 from 8 a.m.-1:00 p.m. as part of a nationwide Free Dentistry Day.
The dental care provided will include cleanings, fillings and extractions.
The team at Riverview Smiles, along with support from Rivercrest Commons Family Dental, are taking the day to help improve the health of their community, and to address the fact that many Americans lack access to dental healthcare.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 108 million Americans are without dental insurance.
“We understand that many people in our community and across the nation haven’t been to the dentist for a long period of time. Some don’t understand the importance of dental health, but more often than not, they don’t have the financial means,” Dr. Adam Feldman of Riverview Smiles said in a press release. “This event is a great opportunity for us to share our time and resources with those less fortunate and give back to the community.”
The dentists say that there is increasing evidence that links oral health to overall health and well-being. The signs and symptoms of over 100 medical conditions, including diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Lou Gehrig’s disease and oral cancer may first be detected through traditional oral examinations.
“Dental health is a vital part of a person’s overall health,” said Dr. Stephanie Mazariegos of Riverview Smiles. “Through this event, we hope to educate patients on the importance of dental health and encourage them to adopt an ongoing oral care regimen.”
Services on Sept. 18 will be provided at Riverview Smiles office, located at 10389 Big Bend Rd. in Riverview. Patients will be accepted by appointment only, and those seeking services are advised to call the office at (813) 304-2600 to schedule their visit.
Dentists at Riverview Smiles are looking forward to treating as many patients as possible that day.
“It’s very gratifying to see the impact that events like Free Dentistry Day can have on the life of a person,” said Dr. Feldman. “While we’re changing their life, they’re changing ours.”
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This article appears in Aug 26 – Sep 1, 2021.