CHARLOTTE, N.C. — More than 300 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools students received free dental care Friday thanks to Team Smile and Central One pediatric dental clinic in northwest Charlotte.
“These volunteers walk around and take kids from station to station,” said Donna Morrow, a volunteer dental hygienist from Cabarrus County.
Volunteers spent hours giving cleanings, screenings and oral health care.
All of them are committed to making the children’s first dental experience a good one.
“They see us with the mask and the gloves and everything, so we try to make them feel relaxed,” said Morrow.
Every child is selected based on need and prescreenings.
“The feeling is great, and this is completely brand-new for me,” said CMS student Leryk Bristol.
Jim Herron looks forward to the event every year, as the dentist to the Panthers and an organizer of this full-service event.
“We do cleaning, sealants, fillings and extractions. Being able to help them out is pretty awesome,” he said.
Each child goes home armed with instructions on how to take care of their teeth, toothpaste and their own toothbrush because some kids didn't have their own.
“I have to make sure I brush them two times a day,” Bristol said.
Now in its eighth year, the clinic served more than 2,000 children in need after Friday’s event.
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