February 5, 2009--The Daily Times, Farmington, NM--G. Jeff Gordon--A trip to the dentist's office might actually become an experience some Four Corners children look forward to, if only for a day. The Northwest Dental District Society and the San Juan College Dental Hygiene program are teaming up Friday for another round of the annual "Give Kids A Smile Day." Local dentists and dental hygiene students will perform cleanings, fillings, X-rays, fluoride treatments, sealants, crowns and extractions for economically disadvantaged children between the ages of 5 and 12. The work will be done for free from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the San Juan College campus. The event is not exclusive to Farmington residents; the dentists will see children from Aztec, Kirtland and Bloomfield as well. Give Kids A Smile Day is a national event started by the American Dental Association in 2003. Local dentists have participated since the program's inception. Dr. Gene Hilton, of Desert Hills Dental, is the event chairman. He said the local dental society targets children with obvious dental and financial needs. Organizers anticipate being able to serve about 50 children Friday. Potential patients must schedule an appointment. Walk-ins will not be accepted. Give Kids A Smile Day encompasses the entire community. School nurses and employees at the Farmington Boys and Girls Club are referring children to the program. The United Way is assisting with scheduling, Subway is providing free lunch for the volunteers and about 10 local dentists are donating their time, Hilton said. United Way spokeswoman Linda Mickey said about 20 appointment slots still are available. In previous years, county dentists have completed more than $50,000 worth of dental work in one day. The local outpouring of support makes the San Juan County event one of the most successful in New Mexico every year. "It's one of the largest in the state. The dentists there are very, very active," said AJ Carian, a public relations agent who works with the New Mexico Dental Association. In addition to providing dental care, Give Kids A Smile Day also educates the children about hygiene and instills lifelong habits. It also provides handson education for the San Juan College students. "That's an important part of Give Kids A Smile Day," Carian said. GET FREE CARE To schedule an appointment for your child, contact the San Juan County United Way at (505) 326-1195.