GODFREY – Rob Little sat patiently Friday outside of Dentistry With TLC.
When his number was called, he was escorted inside and got a tooth extracted at no cost. Little did not win any raffle. He was one of the 120 patients who were treated from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday during the third annual Dentistry With A Heart Day. The dental offices of Dr. Anna Smith and Dr. Ty Parker offered cleanings, fillings, and extractions to adults age 18 and older who could not afford dental care. “I was here last year, and the staff is very well-qualified,” said Little, 62, of Godfrey. “The pain factor is not bad, and the price – well, you can’t beat free.” “In the past two years, Dentistry With A Heart has helped 230 individuals and volunteered about $50,000 worth of free dental work,” Dr. Smith said. The response from the community was strong, with the office’s quota being met at 9:30 a.m. “People come from all over the state,” said Larry Pruett, a member of the TLC team and organizer for the event. “There were people who showed up at midnight. The event is first come first serve, so they were the first to be helped.”
Dentistry With TLC publicized the event heavily, including sending out bulletins and letters to local churches. They also placed an ad on the radio, as well as an ad in The Telegraph.