When local dentists Tom Smith and Diane Bundy helped out with an area church last summer offering free dental services, they came away wanting to do more.

It didn’t take long for the two to come up with the idea of offering a similar service at their own office at 210 Arthur Drive. With the help of other local dentists, Smith and Bundy teamed up with Cooperative Community Ministries in an effort to provide basic dental services for those unable to do so themselves.

“That particular day, the x-ray unit wasn’t working and we were in a small cramped area,” Smith said of last summer’s mission day with Carolina Memorial Baptist Church. “We were not familiar with all the equipment and instruments. While we were able to take care of some patients, we weren’t able to care for a lot of patients.”

Last Saturday, Smith and Bundy, along with Dr. Michael Lanning and Dr. Gerald Fisher, welcomed more than a dozen people to their office, doing teeth cleanings and performing extractions and fillings free of charge. Despite six inches of snow on the ground, staff members and all four dentists from the office showed up, with some even going and picking people up who had signed up for the service and couldn’t get out because of the weather.

“Some of them had never had their teeth cleaned before,” said Smith. “They were people who probably hadn’t been to the dentist in years.”

Not only did people get their teeth taken care of, staff members collected money and managed to send everyone who came in home with a bag full of groceries. Smith said his office went to CCM as a way to find those who would benefit from the service the most. The goal was to treat people with no insurance or no real means of paying for the treatments themselves.

“We were determined and pleasantly surprised that most of the patients did come,” Bundy said of the weather. “That shows just how great their need was that they would come through six inches of snow and ice just to be seen. It was a good day.”

Office administrator Suzy Mantel estimates her office donated close to $10,000 worth of dental services last Saturday.

“If they couldn’t come, we went and got them,” said Mantel. “The staff totally devoted their time. They were great.”

Smith said he just felt it would be easier and more efficient to offer the service at the home office. With everything at the their disposal, the four dentists and the rest of the staff could treat more people effectively.

“It really turned out well,” Smith said. “The people were so gracious and appreciative. It was one of those win-win deals. We gained so much from it.”

One man that came in needed 10 teeth pulled out and was homeless living in his car, Smith said. Stories like that made the day worth while for a group of individuals who were willing to go the extra mile in order to help a community that needed someone to care.

Other local dentists also participated in offering free dental services, including Dr. James McGhee, Dr. Nicholas Hurley and Dr. Christian Brandyberry.

Staff Writer Eliot Duke can be reached at 888-3578, or duke@tvilletimes.com.