VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - A local dental clinic offered care to people without insurance Sunday, providing everything from cleanings to extractions.
Sharing Smiles Day is an annual event put on by Benevis, parent company of Spencer Dental and Braces on Holland Road.
The clinic offered free dental care to as many as 40 people who don't have dental insurance. One of them was a patient named Sarah. Sunday was her birthday and the gift she wanted, she says, was to be pain-free.
"This worked out perfectly for me because I do have a lot of problem areas," she told News 3 while getting x-rays.
After signing up, patients would arrive to the clinic for an exam. Because many hadn't been to the dentist in years, clinic staff says often, they would end up in the procedure rooms for extractions and other procedures.
“We specialize mostly in children and I love the kids. That’s where my passion is. It’s the kids," said Stacy Grant, one of the hygienists.
She says for many, being without pain can be life-changing, and that having good oral health will lead to better overall health.
Office Manager Dionte Robinson tells News 3 that most of the clinic's clients are low-income and that even on days where the uninsured aren't seen for free, Spencer Dental and Braces is willing to work with them.
“They can still come to us regardless to having insurance or not. If they don’t have insurance, we offer in-house plans," he said.
For Sarah, just getting help without the worry of paying is a relief.
“Dental work is so expensive nowadays, so it definitely helps a lot," she said.
