Lake Oconee Dentistry hosted Smiles from the Heart last Friday, Oct. 4, providing a free day of dental care to 99 area residents.

Registration began at 7:30 a.m., with a line beginning to form several hours earlier that morning. Drs. David and Patti Bradley, Dr. Shelly Pound, Dr. Andrea Feldman, Dr. Grant Dawson and Dr. Jamie Crowley were joined by Dr. David Miller of Lake Oconee Oral Surgery Center to treat as many people as possible that day.

This year’s event provided over $30,000 in free dental care to those in need.

“Smiles from the Heart is a way for us to help those who have no means of affording much-needed dental care,” said Dr. David Bradley, co-owner of Lake Oconee Dentistry. “Oral health plays a significant role in a person’s overall health. Most of these people haven’t had care in quite some time.”

While Lake Oconee Dentistry has hosted free days of dentistry since 2008, this year the practice expanded its vision for the event by inviting a variety of local community groups to share information about their organization and the services they provide. Circle of Love Women’s Shelter, Greene County Habitat for Humanity, ATLAS Ministry, Greene County Food Pantry, Greene County Christian Outreach, The Pete Nance Boys & Girls Club, and Victory Train were all in attendance to connect with patients that day.

“The response from the community groups was amazing,” said Bradley. “It’s our hope that, in having these groups present, we were able to help connect people with resources that they were unaware of and are available to them.”

Lakeside Church was also on hand to assist, setting up a tailgating trailer with big screen t.v. and grilling hot dogs for attendees. Marco’s Pizza generously donated lunch for the volunteers.

“This event was really a community-wide effort,” said Bradley. “It was a privilege to be able to care for so many people.”