ORANGE PARK – A local dentist office offering free care this weekend is hoping to see about 100 people at “Smiles For Miles 904.”
Dr. Michael Thomasino’s practice on Wells Road, Sunrise …
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ORANGE PARK – A local dentist office offering free care this weekend is hoping to see about 100 people at “Smiles For Miles 904.”
Dr. Michael Thomasino’s practice on Wells Road, Sunrise Dental, also hosted free treatments last year. He added that the event will have more dental professionals this year and quicker wait times at registration.
“We want to go bigger and better,” Thomasino said. “We started about three weeks before the last dental day and it was pulled off. There’s much more time to prepare this time.”
Thomasino sees the event as community service. He said he’s done charitable work overseas, but there’s always work to be done at home.
The event gives the practice a chance to educate, treat and socialize with patients. Thomasino said the event gets patients out of pain and on with life by offering exams, X-rays, extractions and other emergency dental treatments.
“With the current economy, everything is more expensive,” he said. “We know there’s plenty of people without dental insurance or a dentist in the area.”
Thomasino said he was pleased with having seven dentists, three hygienists, 10 dental assistants, 10 support staff and multiple students work the event this year, providing about $60,000 in care and more than 200 hours combined. He said the event is also a great teamwork exercise since it brings over staff from Sunrise’s two Jacksonville-affiliated offices.
“I think it’s streamlined pretty well, even though last year was pretty fast. The gratitude is just awesome, the camaraderie and the bonds,” Thomasino added. “It's a chance for all three offices' staff to work together at the same time.”
The event is also sponsored by the Florida Baptist Convention, which will provide a dental van. Florida Baptist Convention Community Ministries' Marc Johnston said the organization was happy with the partnership and assisting the community.
“Florida Baptist Convention and dentists from across Florida have been partnering since 1973 to provide dental care for the underserved community,” Johnston said. “We are excited to have the opportunity to partner again with Sunrise Emergency & Family Dental Care to provide services to those in need in Orange Park and Jacksonville.”
At Sunrise’s 1700 Wells Road office (suite 19), patients must attend a dental screening on March 10 between 7 a.m.-1 p.m. to secure an appointment time on March 12, which are from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. The first 100 patients will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.