Xilian Gutierrez has a dental history that would make some people grit their teeth. Diagnosed at 10 with tooth crowding and decay, the Hastings teenager has had perhaps eight extractions in the past six years and several cavities filled.
Her family might never have known about the looming problems. She seldom complained, according to her older sister, Marisol, and because they didn't have dental insurance, they couldn't have afforded the thousands of dollars of work anyway.
But when she was 10, Xilian brought home a flier from the school nurse advertising free dental care for children during a two-day event. Her mom scheduled Xilian's first dental appointment -- and averted what might have been a future of serious problems.
That was the first year that the Hastings Midwest Dental Clinic participated in the national "Give Kids A Smile" event, whose 2011 version begins Friday.
"When we first did it in our office, we really got educated as to how much dental need there was out there for the children," said Shirley Poeschel, the clinic's patient service representative.
Because dental woes can keep kids home from school, saddle families with huge bills and even cause serious medical problems, Dr. Todd Porter said volunteers try to create a sense of urgency in the parents, educating them on their children's dental problems and encouraging follow-up appointments.
On Friday and Saturday, dentists at dozens of clinics around Minnesota will volunteer their time and expertise to provide low-income families with free dental care. Last year in Minnesota, about 3,000 volunteers treated more than 6,000 children.
When her family was able to get insurance, Xilian started scheduling regular 6-month appointments. "Now that we have insurance, we didn't want to take that spot from someone else," Marisol Gutierrez said.
Marisol never had trouble with her teeth, but she always accompanied her sister to the clinic to translate English to Spanish for her mother.
Now, at 22, she is going to school for a career in dental hygiene. For the past five years, she has volunteered at the Hastings dental office, translating for patients and working toward her degree. She appreciates dental health -- and the program that treated her sister for free.
Taryn Wobbema is a University of Minnesota journalism student on assignment for the Star Tribune.
