Third -grader Eli Izarraraz adjusted his blue sunglasses and smiled brightly.
He just got a tooth filling at Give Kids a Smile Day Friday, Feb. 7, at Hamann Dentistry in Perham. Up next for Eli was having his teeth cleaned.
Give Kids a Smile is a nationwide program endorsed by the American Dental Association and the Minnesota Dental Association. The program, taking place on the first Friday and Saturday of February, is to help low-income families who struggle to find dental work for their children.
Dental offices have the option to sign up to participate in the program.
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Hamann Dentistry staff members donated their time and services to give free dental exams, cleanings, x-rays and fillings. This is the 12th time the office has taken part in the Give Kids a Smile program, said Trisha Hamann, Hamann Dentistry’s public relations director.
Generally, the office sees children who have primary teeth and are between the ages of 3 and 17, she said, although they have seen 2-year-olds and 18-year-olds in the past as part of the program.
“Already today I did a filling on a child that in less than 6 months would probably have a toothache,” said dentist Dr. Brooke Hamann. “And would be missing school and parents would be missing work.”
This year Hamann Dentistry saw patients from the Pelican Rapids, Detroit Lakes, Wadena and Perham areas
“It’s a way for us to give back to the community,” Hamann said.
