9:43am

Mon February 20, 2012
Health and Welfare

Smile Kentucky Provides Dental Care

Credit Jill Pickett/The News-Enterprise
Dr. Eric Abang prepares Friday to treat a student's cavity, aided by dental assistant Lisa Compton at Elizabethtown Dentistry for Children. The child was receiving treatment for free as part of the Smile Kentucky program.

Dr. Marianne Sheroan eased her patient’s fears of a cavity treatment by telling her that she was receiving “princess fillings.” And they were indeed pretty special, because for the patient, they were free. More than 60 children received free dental work in the past few weeks as part of the Smile Kentucky program. The program in Hardin County screens every third grader and relays the assessments of dental needs to parents. But for about 70 students, the needed treatment is provided free by dental professionals who volunteer with the program.