For 20 children from local elementary schools, a healthy smile is no longer out of reach.
Dr. Charles Tatlock, dentist and associate professor at UNM, hosted Give Kids a Smile day on Friday at a dental clinic in the Northeast Heights.
The annual event provides free dental care to 20 children between 5 and 14 who have severe dental problems. Tatlock and several resident dentistry students perform X-rays, teeth cleanings, cavity fillings, caps and other work that may need to be done.
Maria Pineiro, a fourth grader from Cochiti Elementary, came to Tatlock's office for the first time Friday.
Although she was scared, Pineiro said she would feel better at school and be happier after the visit. But she wasn't excited about a day off from class. Pineiro wanted to get back to school.
"I want to learn more," she said. "When I grow up, I want to be a doctor."
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Tatlock said Cochiti Elementary's school nurse picked the children with help from UNM nursing students. To be selected, students had to have obvious dental problems and no insurance coverage.
Tatlock said all of the treatment is paid for by a grant from the Department of Health and the American Dental Association.
"Based on previous years, (the Department of Health) has provided $15 (thousand) to $20 thousand of free care to these kids, because many of them come with such high needs," he said.
Nancy Benton, school nurse at Cochiti Elementary, said the free yearly clinics will help children like Pineiro achieve their dreams and career goals.
"Socially, if you have (bad) teeth, you won't get a job," Benton said.
Give Kids a Smile day started six years ago, and Benton has helped to select children for it since then.
Benton said she works with other school nurses from Garfield, Valley, Griegos, La Luz and Duranes elementary schools to find kids for the program.
Some of the students have been going to the event for years, she said.
"(This program) is amazing," she said. "The kids are much more confident. It makes a big difference in their lives."
Give Kids a Smile day is part of the Brighter Smiles for New Mexico initiative, which encourages dentists all over the country to host free clinics like Tatlock's.
UNM students from the pre-dental society came to observe the clinic. The seven UNM resident dentists who do the free dental work have completed dental school. Their year of residency helps them gain experience and become more specialized, Tatlock said.
He said the dental care provided Friday may not be the only time these students get to visit the dental clinic for free. Children who need it also receive follow-up appointments.
"Intercepting dental disease in children has really big dividends down the line for them," Tatlock said.
