Free clinic in Orange Park helps adults in need of dental care

ORANGE PARK, Florida. – Up to 100 adults received free, much-needed dental care thanks to a medical center in Orange Park.

Crissy Johns has spent the past two years dealing with significant dental pain.

“Headaches, not being able to bite into food,” Johns said. “It was a series of things.

But she couldn’t afford treatment, which could have cost her thousands of dollars.

But thanks to Sunrise Emergency and Family Dental Care in Orange Park, Johns had two teeth pulled for free.

“They were very nice. They took their time, they didn’t rush,” Johns said. “I’m glad it’s done now.”

At a free clinic on Saturday, Dr. Michael Thomasino and a team of dentists and oral surgeons provided dental care to adults in need.

Thomasino was inspired to continue after doing similar work in Jamaica.

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“I thought, ‘Why don’t we do this at home?’ I think charity starts at home,” Thomasino said.

Each procedure lasted about 20 minutes. The patients were seen outside the building and inside a large moving bus. Treatments ranged from extractions and fillings to treating gum disease.

This is the second consecutive year that Thomasino has organized this type of clinic.

He said the coronavirus pandemic has led to many people missing crucial appointments.

“There has been a gap in preventive care, and so there are probably more emergencies than ever,” Thomasino said.

It’s just one way to help meet a need.

Johns appreciates it.

“I wish there were more people like that who are willing to help people who can’t afford to do things like that,” Johns said.

Thomasino said, “Just over and over again the thanks, the appreciation, people are crying because they have had to deal with such misery for so long and we are able to pull them out of the pain.”