Posted at: 02/06/2010 11:08 PM
By: Ellery McCardle

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Local Dentists "Give Kids a Smile"

(ABC 6 NEWS) -- It's a day designed to give kids a smile, and hundreds of free dental clinics across the country did just that, including one in Rochester.

But with the economic recession, more families are taking advantage of the program. 

Art Larson says she saves 700 dollars without dental insurance, by coming to get free dental care. 

"X-rays for kids I'm sure are well over 100 dollars a piece," she says.

Yesterday kicked off “Give Kids a Smile”, a state-wide program that gives free dental care to kids ages 4 through 17.

This is Arista Piche's third year coming and without dental insurance, and her mom Kimberly is thankful. 

"It's wonderful that it's available to individuals and families," says Kimberly Piche.

Pam Lawrence of Good Samaritan says she can tell there's an economic recession as more kids are coming in for dental care, especially those kids whose parents lost a job and are now without benefits.

"We are screening the kids, doing their work if it’s not completed.  We have them come back until it's completed and when they leave they know in 6 months where they're going," she said.

Nine doctors and 15 hygienists volunteered this year.  They treated 60 kids, which is more patients than last year.

The Give Kids a Smile program has been going for eight years and has helped over 35,000 kids, but it’s not just about cleanings and fillings, it's also about education. 

Something Kimberly Piche is happy about, especially during these rough economic times. 

"Yeah it’s definitely hit harder than things were," she says.