Dr. Sarant - Carolina Center of Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry

Raleigh Cosmetic Dentist and The Tooth Ferry

By Angela Hampton & Eyewitness News 11.com

A new program is helping children who can't afford dental check-ups get the care they need. It's a dentist office on wheels that literally travels to schools to treat kids. Health reporter Angela Hampton has the story.

Thousands of children in our state don't go to the dentist because their families can't afford it. In some cases, children's school work suffers because they have cavities and they hurt - and they can't concentrate on their classes. But in Durham Public schools, that's changing thanks to the tooth ferry.

Students are identified in annual school screenings as having an urgent need. Some children have Medicaid, but at least half don't have any health insurance. There's a minimal charge or it's free. It's not just about a pretty smile according to Dr. McIntosh. Teachers and principals complain about children being in the classrooms in pain and not being able to concentrate.

Another problem: Poor nutrition. Because of a loss of teeth, not being able to eat with teeth that hurt, you can't chew properly so the children don't eat well. Twenty percent of school-aged children have cavities, and 80% of them have all the decay seen in that 20%. So it is a very much needed service and it keeps us very busy (laughs).

For more information on the Half-Price Teeth Bleaching offered by Raleigh Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Jimmy Sarant, call the Carolina Center for Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry at 919.855.8600. Or, go to www.raleigh-dentist.com.

You can also call the Smiles 4 Life Charity at 1-877-4-SMILES or go to www.smiles4life.com.

If you're not interested in having your teeth bleached, but would still like to donate to the Tooth Ferry, send a check made Payable to Duke University to:
Division of Community Health
Attention: Susan Epstein
Duke University Medical Center
Box 2914 Room 305 Hanes
Durham, NC 27710

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Dr James Sarant, LVI Cosmetic Dentist - Providing services in cosmetic, cerec and neuromuscular dentistry, zoom whitening and tmj treatment to the areas of Raleigh, North Carolina.