Heather Marsh, 26, Topeka, and Christopher Winkel, 28, Lawrence, watch videos around 4:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 24, 2010, outside Douglas County Dental Clinic, 316 Maine. Winkel was 36th in line to receive care during Free Dental Day. by Richard Gwin

Lawrence resident Tara Ford, 28, her sister, and a friend arrived at midnight Thursday to make sure they secured three slots at Friday’s Free Dental Day at the Douglas County Dental Clinic.

“It’s just a once a year thing, so it’s not something you can pass up, especially the way employment and everything is,” Ford said.

They were first of 70 people in line at the first-come, first-served at the clinic, 316 Maine.

Ford estimated that she needed $2,000 worth of dental work. She said the last time she visited a dentist was two years ago when she needed something removed.

She is employed, but only works a day or two a week.

“I take what I can get, but it’s been kind of hard,” she said.

Crystal Freed, 23, and Tara Ford, 28, wait for free dental care Friday, Sept. 24, 2010, outside the front door of the Douglas County Dental Clinic, 316 Maine. The two began waiting at midnight Thursday, and were the first in line for Free Dental Day. by Richard Gwin

By 3:30 a.m., about 20 others had joined them, including 78-year-old JoAn Hoover. She hadn’t been to the dentist for several years.

“It got so expensive, I just haven’t been. I’ve just put it off. And then when this broke,” she said, pointing to her tooth. “I can’t have my front tooth like that.”

She ended up being the first person to receive care, thanks to Ford and the 17 others in line before her.

“I said, ‘She shouldn’t be out there. It’s freezing cold. If anything, she should be the first person going in,’” Ford said. “She was the oldest, you know. You’ve got to respect your elders.”

Julie Branstrom, executive director of the clinic, said all 70 slots for the third annual event were filled by 7 a.m.

She estimated another 50 people had been turned away by 9 a.m.

To receive care, people had to be a Douglas County resident and have a household income at or below 200 percent of federal poverty. That’s $44,099 annually for a family of four.

Branstrom said she would like to provide more free dental days, but once a year is what the clinic can handle for now.

“I know there’s a need. We could probably do this six times a year and barely scratch the surface of the need that exists out here for dental care,” Branstrom said.

By 9 a.m., Hoover was showing off her new smile. Volunteers at the clinic replaced the 50-year-old filling that had fallen out and left a gap between her front teeth.

“I need my lipstick,” she said, with a laugh. She rubbed her fingers over her front teeth. “I love it.”

Twenty-seven volunteers helped with the third annual event, including eight dentists. They provided 166 X-rays, 61 exams, 62 fillings, two pulpotomies, 12 extractions and one cleaning.

The clinic also provided vouchers for 43 extractions with Dr. Philip Gaus, an oral surgeon, and for 13 cleanings. The care was worth $13,349.

The clinic was only able to provide care for 61 patients on Friday. The last nine will receive free treatment during the next couple of weeks. That care is estimated to be an additional $9,000.

Debbie Souders 38, and her daughter Brandie Roberts 19, try to sleep at 4:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 24, 2010, in the parking lot of the Douglas County Dental Clinic, 316 Maine. They were in line for the third annual Free Dental Day, a day when the clinic provides care for free for the first 70 people in line. by Richard Gwin

Debbie Souders, 38, and her daughter, Brandie Roberts, 19, had gotten in line at 2:30 a.m., and were among those who received care.

Souders attended Free Dental Day last year, and has been receiving care off and on since then at the clinic. She receives less than $700 per month in disability benefits and is on Medicaid, which only pays for an extraction — no preventative or restorative care.

“If it wouldn’t be for the clinic going off of income and having Free Dental Day, I honestly probably wouldn’t have very good teeth if very many at all,” she said.

Dr. Ed Manda provides care for Kyung Hwang, of Lawrence, with the help of Ashley Goodrich, a dental assistant on Free Dental Day, Friday, Sept. 24, 2010, at the Douglas County Dental Clinic, 316 Maine. Manda was among eight dentists who volunteered their time to provide free care for 61 patients.

WANT TO HELP?

Douglas County Dental Clinic needs volunteer dentists not only for its annual Free Dental Day, but throughout the year.

The wait for an appointment is six weeks.

To learn more about the clinic or to volunteer, contact Julie Branstrom, executive director, at 312-7770, ext. 207, or e-mail dcdcdirector@sunflower.com. Its website is www.dcdclinic.org.

Dentists who volunteered for dental day were: Drs. Galen Van Blaricum, Chris Leiszler, Ed Manda, Brent Jones, Richard Valbuena, Jim Otten, Matt Krische, John Hay, Cheryl Biesterfeld and Kelly Farmer.