MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) -- As a way of saying thanks to its community, the Monongalia County Health Department (MCHD) offered its annual Healthy Smiles Day on Wednesday.
MCHD Dentistry's Healthy Smile Day offers free exams, cleanings, small restorative work and x-rays to uninsured patients through appointment. The department offers a similar day for uninsured children in February called Give Kids a Smile Day.
The event is open to residents outside of Monongalia County as well to help ensure that those in need throughout the state receive proper care.
On Wednesday, MCHD saw 30 patients despite the Governor's proclamation of a half-day for state employees. MCHD Dentistry's program manager, Dr. Youseph Kassar, told 12 News the importance of taking care of your teeth and explained how it can affect your overall health.
"There's been a ton of research that shows that the microbiome, or the bacteria in your mouth, whether good or bad, does affect the rest of your body," Dr. Kassar said. "Whether it be cardiovascular issues or now recently, Alzheimer's and stuff like that, so taking great care of your teeth will have a positive impact on your body."
Through its dentistry program, MCHD offers preventative and restorative care, same-day crowns, extractions, anesthetic procedures, and Botox for TMJ pain. Allen Yeager, a three-year patient of MCHD who received an X-ray and cleaning on Wednesday, spoke about his visit.
"Everybody's nice, and they treat you really good, they take care of you, and the dental hygienist is really good, so yeah, well pleased," Yeager said.
If you missed MCHD's Healthy Smiles Day, the dentistry program is offering a new patient promo for uninsured patients that includes an exam with a doctor and an X-ray for $125. You can learn more through the dentistry program's website.