Tappan, NY—–Dr. Mariliza LaCap, Dr. Darren Tong and their Smile Team will provide a day of FREE dentistry for children ages 3-16 as part of the National Children?s Dental Health Month. They also welcome adults! This will be their eighth year in providing this most needed service. Last year they provided more than $100,000 worth of dentistry to adults and children in the Bergen County area. True to their image, their dental office has been known by the community as the “Dental Office with a Heart.”
“Dentistry from the Heart” is a program that includes Kids and adults that will be held on March 31 (Friday) 9:30 am – 4:00 pm at Smile More Dentistry at 140 Oak Tree Road, Tappan, NY. This office is one of a few offices in the Bergen County and Rockland area participating in this program. “It?s heartbreaking to see a child?s smile destroyed by severe tooth decay,” said Dr. LaCap. “Imagine not being able to eat, sleep or pay attention in school because you have a mouthful of toothaches. It?s tragic. All the Doctors and team members in our office volunteer their time. We work with an amazing group of people who are giving and caring.”
Expected growth in appointments this year will be due to the high unemployment rate in New Jersey and New York, the explosive growth of children living in poverty and more families opting to forgo dental insurance and treatment in order to help pay for other essential living expenses.
“Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease in America and it is
100% preventable.” says Dr. Tong, a Columbia University graduate and pediatric
dentist. “The more we keep pushing this message out to the public and those
who can help us reach this goal, the faster we can put our children on the road to
becoming cavity free.”
Qualified children (children with NJ Care card, Medicaid or whose parent?s
simply can’t afford the dentistry needed) should call and make an
appointment. “These appointments fill up quickly. We usually have to turn
people away,” says Kim, the patient care coordinator. The children will
receive a comprehensive dental exam, any emergency treatment, oral
healthcare instruction, fluoride treatment and free dental hygiene material
including toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss.
If your children or any children you know qualifies for this program,
please call their office at 845-359-1763 and mention the “Dentistry from the Heart” program.
They are also looking for more dental assistants or
hygienists to volunteer their time on this special day of giving, please
give them a call or visit their website at TappanDentist.com and click
on “Giving back to the Community”.
