Imagine a whole office of dental professionals working all day without compensation, just because they want to help kids. That is what happened on Saturday, Feb. 6^th at the Smile Kingdom.

Smile Kingdom Dental owner and operator Jose Juarez, D.D.S., his practice manager Danielle Mendoza, dental assistants Aida Camper and Robyn Alongi, and office volunteer Erin Castleberry, worked an entire day to give qualified kids the chance to overcome their dental problems. The Sacramento District Dental Society (SDDS) program also sent a dentist, Dr. Penumetcha, and her assistant to help with the higher volume this year.

Last year at Juarez’s office just six patients came to receive treatment on the special day set aside. Others were scheduled but did not show. This year, 17 patients were treated and there was only one no-show, perhaps indicating that the process is becoming more clear to parents of the children who are screened and recommended for the program. Work done included 17 exams, cleanings, and fluoride treatments, 100 x-rays, 16 fillings, one root canal, three crowns, and seven extractions—totaling a dollar value of $14,026.

The dental treatment performed at no cost for patients at the Smile Kingdom Dental office is the culmination of a long process that begins each year with the schools. Under the SDDS program, schools in a five county region—Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, Amador, and El Dorado—may opt to have dental screenings performed for the children by volunteer dentists associated with the dental society’s charity dental program. The dentists do screenings at the various schools in the fall.

According to Erin Castleberry, students are given a score of one, two, or three. “One means they look good, two means they probably should see a dentist, and three means [the dentist] visually can see urgent needs,” Castleberry said. The school follows up on those rated with a three to see if they have dental insurance. If they do not have insurance, those children are referred to the SDDS Smiles for Kids program.

Castleberry, who worked previously for SDDS, now works as an administrative specialist for the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District. “I worked with the program for 10 years, so it’s kind of my baby,” Castleberry said. “[The kids] come in scared. A lot of times they come in with a lot of problems, and oral health in kids is so important. It really affects their whole overall health in their whole body, so it’s really important to get them off on a good start.”

Alongi works now for the California Dental Association Foundation, and was back just to help out. “I love to give kids a smile day,” Alongi said. “It brings me back to my dental assistant roots and being in the community helping the dentists help the kids.” She worked in x-ray and sterilization.

A limited number of dental offices participate, which Castleberry estimates at 25 to 40 offices in the entire five county region. “From what I know,” said Practice Manager Danielle Mendoza, “we are the only ones in Rancho Cordova participating with this charity.”

If the child needs work from a specialist, something that can’t be done on that day at that office such as orthodontics or another specialty, the parents are instructed to call SDDS and the dental society has a list of specialists who will complete the treatment at no cost.

For more information about the dental program, please contact your school and ask if they participate in the SDDS annual dental screening.