7th Annual Dentistry From The Heart

San Marcos Gentle Dental will be hosting the 7th annual Dentistry From The Heart event on Friday, Feb. 28 — a free day of dentistry for anyone who needs it. 

As a growing number of Americans lack dental insurance, Gentle Dental felt an event that made dental work accessible was a great way to address many related health problems and give back to the community.

At last year’s event, over 80 people in the community were served with free dentistry, totaling over $30,000 worth of free dental treatment. Adults 18 and over are eligible to receive either a free cleaning, one filling or one removal on this day.  

Dentistry From The Heart is a nationwide nonprofit organization that was founded 18 years ago as a way to provide aid to those in communities throughout America with free dental treatment. Today, more than 300 annual events are hosted in the U.S., with Dr. J. Robert Donnelly hosting the event in San Marcos, along with participating dentists, Dr. John K. Drisdale III and Dr. Charles Reeves.

"I realized that citizens in San Marcos and surrounding areas could really benefit from such an event and it provided me with a way to give back to a community that has given so much to me over the years," Dr. Donnelly said in a press statement. "Even closer to my heart though is being able to provide these services in the name of my son, Chance, who passed away in 2010. Chance was also involved in the dental field and had a very giving heart. This is a way for me to honor his memory in the community that he loved." 

Registration for the event will begin on Friday, Feb. 28 at 7:30 a.m. and is based on a first come, first serve basis with the last patient seen at 4 p.m. 

Participants should dress for the weather conditions as they will be waiting outside in a triage area until they are called in for treatment. Music, food and a raffle will take place during the event.

For more information, call 512-396-5225 or visit Gentle Dental's website.