Last month, Tashenia Torres visited a dentist after experiencing sharp, excruciating pain from her wisdom teeth. Without dental insurance, she struggled to schedule an extraction.
“I told them, ‘I don’t have the money, I don’t even have health insurance, so how can I take it out?’” Torres said. “They said, ‘You need to get the money in order to get it taken out,’ and I thought that was just unfair.”
Torres, a 31-year-old Gainesville resident, is not alone. An estimated 6 million Floridians face financial barriers or difficulty accessing dental care, according to Floridians for Dental Access. Many residents remain unsure how to obtain necessary treatment.
“That’s the question: How do you go about it if they don’t provide the necessary things that you need?” Torres said.
Free Dental Clinics Scheduled for February
To improve access, Millhopper Family Dentistry and the University of Florida (UF) College of Dentistry are hosting free dental clinics in February, in celebration of National Children’s Dental Health Month. The events provide essential services to the Gainesville community at no cost, aiming to promote long-term oral health.
Millhopper Family Dentistry’s free clinic, Care to Share, will take place Feb. 28 at 8 a.m., serving the first 100 patients on a first-come, first-served basis. Services include fillings, extractions, and cleanings, according to the Care to Share flyer.
The UF College of Dentistry will hold its 11th annual Super Sealant Saturday on Feb. 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event offers free dental exams, sealants, and fluoride varnishes to children ages 1 to 17, along with educational activities. While walk-ins are welcome, the college recommends registering for an appointment.
Patients Prepare for Free Dental Services
After seeing the Care to Share event on Facebook, Torres plans to attend to have two teeth extracted. She said she will return next year to complete the remaining extractions. Torres plans to arrive as early as 1 a.m. to secure a spot, noting that some prospective patients camp out the day before.
Despite the free care, Torres remains concerned about medications, the need for a companion, and time off work. “I live with people — we need to put food on the table,” she said.
Clinic Staff Reflect on The Program’s Impact
Jessica McMillan, a 42-year-old office administrator at Millhopper Family Dentistry, said the free clinic began in 2010 to assist patients who could not afford routine dental care.
“Early on, many patients requested extractions,” McMillan said. “Over the years, more are requesting fillings and cleanings. That shows we’re helping people maintain their oral health.”
To run the event, Millhopper Family Dentistry receives sponsorships and collaborates with former employees. About 75 volunteers help serve patients. Numbers are handed out to the first 100 attendees, and people often line up the day before the event.
Owner Alecia McDonald, 46, said the initiative targets residents who may be excluded from care due to insurance or financial barriers. “It’s a fun way for us to get together with specialists in town and provide work for people with no real qualifications — just, ‘Hey, we’re here. If you’re willing to wait, we’ll take good care of you,’” she said. McDonald praised the collaboration and volunteerism among local dental professionals, calling it “just a good feeling” to serve the Gainesville community.
UF Super Sealant Saturday Combines Care with Community Engagement
Olga Ensz, 36, a UF clinical associate professor and director of community-based outreach, said dental students started the Super Sealant Saturday initiative. The program grew from student interest in providing preventive care on Saturdays for children.
Co-founded in 2015 by dental students Stephen Obeng and Patrick Fitzgerald, the event involves nearly 200 volunteers and has served over 1,100 children. The initiative aims to make dental care accessible while providing a fun, family-friendly experience. This year’s theme is “Toy Story,” following last year’s “Frozen.”
“About 40% of the population experiences dental anxiety,” Ensz said. “We want kids to have a positive experience while receiving preventative care.” The Saturday schedule also accommodates parents who work full time.
By participating, dental students gain hands-on experience, while the community benefits from preventive services and education.