Why We Do Free Dentistry

When my father started Johnson Family Dental back in 1963, he instilled hard work and service in my eight siblings and me. When I bought my father’s practice in 2000, I knew we needed to do everything we could to give back to our community.

So for the seventh year in a row, we are hosting our annual kids’ free dental day this Friday, August 14, when kids aged one to 12 can have their teeth cleaned, receive a fluoride treatment, and get a quick exam. Called Little Hearts, Big Smiles, this is the perfect event to educate both parents and children on how to brush, floss, and create healthy habits. That education is critical because parents play a very important role in a child’s oral hygiene. For my own three kids, we made toothbrushing fun by turning on their favorite song and making them brush until the song was over. But I tell all my patients that children should see a dentist around their first birthday and then come back twice a year to make sure things are growing correctly and teeth are staying clean.

The event can also lead to more dramatic results. Last year, I remember a little boy of about eight years whose parents thought that he was brushing and flossing his teeth daily. However, when we took a closer look, we saw that many of his baby teeth had cavities due to lack of flossing. Just asking our kids to floss isn’t always enough, which is another reason why this free dental day is critical for many.

We would love for you to join us. This year’s participating offices are Johnson Family Dental in Solvang, Ventura, and Camarillo (805-626-8828) and Alegre Dental and Braces in Santa Barbara (805-456-5078).