Dentists give thanks by giving care

TRINITY - Sitting in a dentist's chair was not exactly what Jim Rungo had in mind for the day before Thanksgiving. But he and nearly 100 other people like him had little choice. They have no dental insurance.

"It's very difficult, and I'm not the only one in that situation," he said. "Many people outside here today while we were waiting were talking about the difficulty that we all experience," Rungo said.

Lucky for him Prestige Dentistry spent the entire day Wednesday giving away dental care.

"There are no government programs, no health care programs for these patients," Dr. David Pielak said. "There are very few clinics in the Tampa Bay area that those patients can go to."

This is the first time Prestige Dentistry held a free clinic. Those who did take advantage may avoid other health problems that result from neglected teeth.

"The problem is that when those patients aren't being treated, when they're not being seen, the effects of their dental health are huge," Dr. Pielack said.

He and a half dozen dentists spent the entire day working for free along with a large staff. Staff members like Marjorie Guerrero says they didn't mind.

"It's an opportunity to serve the community, and a way to give thanks for the wonderful things that we have in our own lives, and to be able to give back to others so they can have a happy Thanksgiving also," she said.