Bracebridge dentist offers free care to help those who need it most

Bracebridge Dental Care is once again giving the community the gift of shiny, white smiles this holiday season with its annual Free Dental Day.

On Friday, Dec. 11 from 8 a.m. to noon, Dr. Ken Hawthorn and dental hygienists Dan Breton and April O’Hallarn will provide complimentary exams, diagnoses, scaling and polishing, X-rays, fillings and extractions to people on a first-come first-served basis.

“We will accept anyone who shows up until our schedule is full,” said Dr. Hawthorn. “However, since we can only help a limited number of people, we encourage people to use their own judgment as to whether they are in need.”

He is aiming to help the “working poor” — those who don’t have dental coverage or who receive basic coverage through government assistance, but need more extensive work done.

“(Government-assisted) programs for the most part provide very basic coverage for dental expenses with strict limits on services and costs, while others are restricted to emergency care only,” said Dr. Hawthorn.

During Free Dental Day, his office addresses some of these problems. Many people who stop by have severe toothaches, for example, but haven’t been able to see a dentist because of lack of finances.

Poverty and poor oral health go hand in hand, reported the Canadian Dental Association in 2012. Along with not receiving regular checkups at the dentist, people living in poverty are more likely to have a poor diet and not regularly floss and brush their teeth, all of which can lead to serious dental problems in the long run.

“Untreated dental problems don’t simply disappear on their own; instead, they continue to spread,” said Dr. Hawthorn.

Cavities, gingivitis and other problems can cause teeth loss, misalignment and disease and lead to severe health problems, like heart disease, diabetes and oral cancer, he said.

But even if people can’t afford to go to the dentist regularly, these problems can be avoided by limiting sugars and acids in your diet, avoiding tobacco and limiting alcohol, brushing and flossing daily, and saving up money to see the dentist or taking advantage of free dental days

Last year, the signup sheet at Bracebridge Dental Care was completely filled within the first few minutes of opening. Dr. Hawthorn expects the same amount of people this year, too.

“At Christmastime, I want to brighten the lives of a few townspeople who are not expecting it and I can do that on this day,” said Dr. Hawthorn. “It is my privilege to serve the people of Bracebridge.”

The office is located at 29 Ann St.

Source: http://www.muskokaregion.com/community-story/6165880-bracebridge-dentist-offers-free-care-to-help-those-who-need-it-most/

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