VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - For one day only, a Virginia Beach dental clinic helped those without insurance get the care they need...free of charge.
It was Sharing Smiles Day at Spencer Dental & Braces on Holland Road.
From 8 a.m. to noon on Sunday, the clinic continued an annual tradition, offering free dental care to potentially dozens of patients.
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The visits typically start with a consult, before patients are taken for everything from x-rays and cleanings to getting sealants, even extractions, if the case was serious enough.
Dr. Erin Bailey says because the patients don't have insurance, it's likely they haven't seen a dentist in a long time and are dealing with pain.
It's something she sees as a full-time dentist for the U.S. Navy; experience she says goes a long way working volunteer events like Sharing Smiles Day.
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“My job is about giving back and serving our country," she said. [This] is the same thing I do on a daily basis; giving back and helping people that need help.”
The clinic said it had the capacity to help as many as 40 children in need of care, though it's not clear how many came out on Sunday.
News 3 is told the plan is to host Sharing Smiles Day once again next year.
