The Children's Health Network is giving the gift of a good smile. It's offering free dental care to kids' whose parents' can't afford it.

The RV is packed for a trip alright, and it's not a camping trip, it's a trip--to the dentist. It's all part of the Children's Health Network's mobile dental clinic providing care to Walton County elementary students on the free lunch program.

Executive Director of the program, Zach Billingsley, identified the need early on. "Most of those children have multiple decayed teeth so they're not only being seen once or twice, sometimes three and four times."

Luckily that wasn't the case for 9-year old Sebastian Sandoval, who had a healthy check up and is over his fears of the dentist.

"The first time I came here in first grade I was all freaked out and stuff" says Sebastian.

Dental Hygienist and volunteer Kelly Taylor says it’s not uncommon.
"For a lot of them, it's their first experience at the dentist. They’re not sure what's going to happen. He was very nervous, but we don't make them do anything they don't want to do", Taylor says.

But it turns out, most of these kids do appreciate the experience, and are learning healthy hygiene habits too

"It went good and it feels good to have a check up” says 8-year old Reese Gorman.

The mobile dental clinic is on tour the entire school year and depending on the needs of the kids, the bus will stay two-to-five weeks at each elementary school providing care.

The non-profit faith based group served 813 students in Walton County last year . Organizers coordinate various health programs through a network of volunteer doctors to provide care for kids in both Walton and Okaloosa counties.