Today was national Give Kids a Smile Day.
But instead of getting candy or a new video game, kids were able to go for a free trip to the dentist.
NHPR's Kerry Grens has more.
The Concord Dental Society set up shop for Give Kids a Smile Day at the New Hampshire Community Technical College.
They expect to see several dozen children for the event.
Raymond and Angela Sears brought their three kids in after a recommendation from the school nurse.
They've had trouble finding a dentist for their children who are insured by Healthy Kids Gold, the state's Medicaid program.
Sears: It's kind of hard because a lot of place they won't necessarily turn you down for the insurance but once they ask you what you have for insurance they'll say well, could you ask somewhere else first. And if they won't take you we'll take you. And I don't want somebody like that for my kids dentist. I'd rather go to the clinic where everybody wants to take care of them than somewhere that doesn't want them.
Mr. Sears admits that his kids don't go to the dentist as often as they should.
Sears: We just decided to do this for now, and if there was an issue, we'd probably be more diligent in calling more places. Because we know there are a number of dentists, but it just seems harder and harder for them to accept the insurance.
Medicaid reimburses dentists below what it costs dentists to provide care.
This has discouraged many of them from accepting Medicaid patients.
But Dr. Homicz, who is President of the New Hampshire Dental Society, says that access for dental care is improving.
Homicz: The state and the dental society are really trying to promote dental participation in the Healthy Kids Gold program and that's up tremendously. Healthy Kids Silver, same thing. The problem comes in the middle if they don't qualify.
Dr. Homicz estimates that over 30 percent of New Hampshire's kids don't have dental insurance.
Homicz: Around the state that varies tremendously, and in some of the more rural and less affluent areas, that number's a lot higher.
This results in kids not seeing dentists as often as they should.
Dentists around the state are taking the day to drill and clean pro bono.
Vice President of the Concord Dental Society Doug Moll says the goal is to get kids acclimated to going to the dentist.
Moll: I think what this event does is it gets some families who are not used to going to the dentists to go to the dentist. See that it's very easy. It's not difficult, it's very comfortable, a lot of kids had a lot of fun this morning. And the parents and the kids get educated about coming to the dentist and maybe can seek it in more of a traditional setting privately.
But for families like Wendy Blanchard's, going to the dentist might not be too difficult, but paying for it is.
Mrs. Blanchard brought her two children to the event for their first dental visit.
Blanchard: My husband owns his own business and health insurance and dental insurance is quite expensive on your own. We just pay for it out of pocket, like I just paid for my own braces, out of pocket. I think even without the dental insurance, they have to go once a year. So whether we're paying for it or dental insurance or whatever it has to be done.
Mrs. Blanchard isn't sure yet how she'll pay for her kids dental visits.
Dr. Homicz says community clinics help pick up some of these families who otherwise fall between the cracks.
And although dentists can't work for free everyday, Dr. Homicz would like to see events like today's keep growing.
For NHPR News, this is Kerry Grens.
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