Volunteer dentists help 100 children kick off year of free dental care at St. Bernard Hospital

Malani Stallworth, 2, of South Shore, receives free dental care at St. Bernard Hospital’s Dental Center in the Englewood neighborhood, on Wednesday.

Alexander Saucedo doesn’t have dental insurance for his 4-year-old daughter, Alexandra, so every visit to the dentist must be paid for out of pocket.

That will change, at least for awhile, thanks to a $25,000 grant to St. Bernard Hospital, which will use the money to provide a year of free dental care to 100 children, including Alexandra.

“I think it’s great that she’ll have free dental care for a year. For other families, it’ll give them access to a facility in their neighborhood,” Saucedo said.

To kick off that year of free treatment, Saucedo and his daughter joined other parents and children for their first check-ups Wednesday at the hospital, 326 W 64th St.

Chicago-based American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry awarded the grant to the hospital to fund the care.

A report by the academy found that about half of U.S. children ages six to 11 are affected by tooth decay, said academy president Joe Castellano.

Ryan Davis, 3, of Hyde Park, reacts to his dental care during Dental Home Day at St. Bernard Hospital’s Dental Center in the Englewood neighborhood, Wednesday, May 22, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

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St. Bernard Hospital’s Dental Center and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry host Dental Home Day, where children receive free dental care, Wednesday, May 22, 2019. The Dental Home Day also featured a bouncy house, face painting, balloon animals and more. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

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Andre Jones, 6, of Alsip, receives free dental care during Dental Home Day at St. Bernard Hospital’s Dental Center in the Englewood neighborhood, Wednesday, May 22, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

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Dr. Courtney Donkoh lets 3-year-old Ryan Davis, of Hyde Park, play with the tools as she provides free dental care during Dental Home Day at St. Bernard Hospital’s Dental Center in the Englewood neighborhood, Wednesday, May 22, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

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Alexander Saucedo, of McKinley Park, looks on as his daughter, 4-year-old Alexandra Saucedo receives free dental care during Dental Home Day at St. Bernard Hospital’s Dental Center in the Englewood neighborhood, Wednesday, May 22, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

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Alexander Saucedo, of McKinley Park, holds his 4-year-old daughter Alexandra’s hand as she receives free dental care during Dental Home Day at St. Bernard Hospital’s Dental Center in the Englewood neighborhood, Wednesday, May 22, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

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Dr. Courtney Donkoh provides free dental care to 3-year-old Ryan Davis, of Hyde Park, during Dental Home Day at St. Bernard Hospital’s Dental Center in the Englewood neighborhood, Wednesday, May 22, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

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Alexandra Saucedo, 4, of McKinley Park, prepares for an X-ray as she receives free dental care during Dental Home Day at St. Bernard Hospital’s Dental Center in the Englewood neighborhood, Wednesday, May 22, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

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Andre Jones, 6, of Alsip, receives free dental care during Dental Home Day at St. Bernard Hospital’s Dental Center in the Englewood neighborhood, Wednesday, May 22, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

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Malani Stallworth, 2, of South Shore, receives free dental care during Dental Home Day at St. Bernard Hospital’s Dental Center in the Englewood neighborhood, Wednesday, May 22, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

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Dora Adeboye (left), 7, of Schaumburg, and Ryan Davis, 3, of Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood, jump in the bouncy house during Dental Home Day, hosted by St. Bernard Hospital’s Dental Center and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, where children receive free dental care, Wednesday, May 22, 2019. The Dental Home Day also featured face painting, balloon animals and more. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

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Dr. Abigail Stern discusses 2-year-old Malani Stallworth’s dental care with her mother, Markita Collins, while her sister 3-year-old Faith Stallworth plays with a balloon animal during Dental Home Day at St. Bernard Hospital’s Dental Center in the Englewood neighborhood, Wednesday, May 22, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

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Dr. Mary Joyce Gomez, medical director of dental service at St. Bernard Hospital’s Dental Center, wears a balloon hat during Dental Home Day, where children receive free dental care, Wednesday, May 22, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

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Malani Stallworth, 2, of South Shore, prepares for an X-ray as she receives free dental care during Dental Home Day at St. Bernard Hospital’s Dental Center in the Englewood neighborhood, Wednesday, May 22, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

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Dr. Courtney Donkoh provides free dental care to 3-year-old Ryan Davis, of Hyde Park, as his father, Dennis Robinson (left), looks on during Dental Home Day at St. Bernard Hospital’s Dental Center in the Englewood neighborhood, Wednesday, May 22, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

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Ryan Davis (front), 3, of the Hyde Park neighborhood, jumps with other kids in the bouncy house during Dental Home Day, hosted by St. Bernard Hospital’s Dental Center and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, where children receive free dental care, Wednesday, May 22, 2019. The Dental Home Day also featured face painting, balloon animals and more. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

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Dr. Courtney Donkoh provides free dental care to 7-year-old Dora Adeboye, of Schaumburg, during Dental Home Day at St. Bernard Hospital’s Dental Center in the Englewood neighborhood, Wednesday, May 22, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

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For Wednesday’s event, the academy rounded up volunteer dentists from around the country who were in Chicago for its convention. Besides the check-ups, the dentists also were there to teach parents proper at-home care and schedule follow-up appointments.

“Many times clinics will offer free services one time but this isn’t a one-time thing. We’re about creating a dental home so that the kids have a place to go back to all the time,” Castellano said. “Part of today is also about educating the parents so that they know what to look for at home.”

Many of the children had never had a dental check-up.

It was the first dental visit — in this country, at least — for Dora Adeboye a 7-year-old from Schaumburg who attended the event with her two younger sisters.

“This is my second time at the dentist. My first time was in Nigeria,” Dora said.

“But I think the dentist is awesome.”

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