Dental office giving back to community

Published 9:39 pm Monday, August 23, 2010

If you have a nagging toothache, a Brierfield dental office is offering to pull the offending tooth for free.

Through a nonprofit organization called Dentistry from the Heart, Mahan Creek Dental will host a free day of extractions for anyone who needs it, including Chilton County residents.

Drs. Mike Mahan, Ron Cater and Gary Myers are offering “free smiles” as they host DFTH Day on Friday, Sept. 24 beginning at 7 a.m.

“It’s free and open to anyone who is in pain and needs to have relief from the pain through the extraction of a tooth,” said Miki Heaton, program coordinator. “If it’s successful, we plan to do this on a yearly basis.”

As a growing number of people lack dental insurance, Dentistry from the Heart continues to expand. To date, DFTH has helped more than 25,000 patients nationwide and provided in excess of $5.5 million in free dental care.

Those who plan to participate should arrive at Mahan Creek Dental on Sept. 24 and receive a number and a form to be completed. When your number is called, you will see a dentist.

Patients will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 7 a.m. with the last patient registration at 3 p.m. If there are several people waiting at 3 p.m., they will be seen as long as they register by the deadline.

“A medical screening will be done to make sure there is not a medical condition to prevent [each patient] from being treated,” Heaton said. “This will be at the discretion of the doctor, obviously.”

Directions: From Montevallo, take Alabama 25 south through Wilton, turn left on Highway 139, go approximately 1 mile and the office is on the left.

For more information, call (205) 665-2723.