Hopkins’ Doctor Offers Valentine’s Gift:
“Dentistry from the Heart” Spreads Free Smiles – Hopkins, MN

The day after Valentine’s Day, Dr. Scott Shamblott will again spread goodwill and cheer to the local community with his Dentistry from the Heart (DFTH) event. This year’s DFTH will be the second annual Valentine’s gift of free fillings and extractions to the first people who show up at Shamblott Family Dentistry, his Hopkins practice.

Dentistry from the Heart (DFTH) began in 2001 as one man’s charitable act for the Tampa Bay community. In the years since, it has grown steadily, and is now hosted by dental offices across the country. This past year, Dr. Shamblott brought DFTH to Minnesota. On February 15, 2008, he will again host a DFTH event.

DFTH is Dr. Shamblott’s way of giving back to the community and providing aid to the growing number of Americans without dental insurance. His team of dental professionals will host this event the Friday after Valentine’s Day.

Dr. Shamblott and his fellow volunteers will start work at 7:00am and continue working throughout the day, caring for as many people as they can. Patients will be examined and will receive free fillings and extractions as needed. Work will be done on a first come, first served basis. In anticipation of DFTH, Shamblott Family Dentistry will work with religious and social service organizations, and will promote the event on the radio as well.

Last year, Dr. Shamblott found that “The biggest demand is from people who’ve been hurting for a long time. This is what they need: someone who can do a little work for them at no charge, first come, first serve. We get a lot of hugs and we get a lot of kisses – all we ask is for a smile in return and a thank you.”

“After seeing what we accomplished with our event last year, we realize there is a great need for Dentistry from the Heart in our community,” said Dr. Scott Shamblott. “There is an opportunity to provide dental care to many people who couldn’t otherwise afford it, and we hope to be able to treat more people this year than we did last, impacting more lives and making an even bigger difference in our community.”

Dr. Shamblott and his team do whatever they can on DFTH day to relieve pain and fix problems. Patients who need ongoing care or have problems that cannot be fixed in one day are referred to community clinics, where they can receive ongoing treatment at low or no cost. “We spend the rest of the year simply running a traditional dental practice,” Dr Shamblott said. “One day is a pretty small thing but we think it makes a difference in the lives of the people who come to us for help.”

“Dentistry from the Heart is a way of giving thanks for our own successes,” Dr. Shamblott said. “We encourage other dentists to join us next year, volunteering their time and lending their skills to this cause. Someday, I’d like to have 50 dentists treat over 500 patients, like the founder of Dentistry from the Heart has in Tampa Bay.”

Nationwide, DFTH has helped over 5,000 people and has given away over one million dollars of free dental work since 2001. Last year more than 18 practices around the country held similar events, and that number is expected to increase in 2008.