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Hernando Today

Standing In Line For A Tooth Pull

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By TONY HOLT

Hernando Today

Published: November 23, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - People arrived the night before with rolled-up sleeping bags under their arms.

There were others who made it before sunrise and were still waiting six hours later in the shivering cold to get inside.

A rock star was not in town. A new iPhone was not going on sale. People were not lining up to witness a miracle.

They were camping out to get their teeth pulled.

"I haven't been to the dentist since I was 13," admitted 28-year-old Naomi Brownell, a Spring Hill mother of six.

She broke a tooth last month and has suffered from the pain ever since. A short time later, she read an article in Hernando Today about a Brooksville doctor who was offering free dental work for those who could not afford tooth extractions or fillings.

Dr. Douglas Roth learned of a clinic offering free dentistry once a month at the Monticciola Clinic in New Port Richey. He also feels for those who do not have insurance or the financial means to have their teeth fixed.

He wanted to follow the lead of those 10 dentists at Monticciola.

On Saturday, he manned the office himself, with the assistance of his eight-member staff and a few volunteers. Roth admitted it was daunting.

"The people have been very appreciative," said Roth of his walk-through patients. "They're wondering when we'll do it again."

When will he offer free dental work again?

"I don't know," he said with a shrug and a chuckle. "We're sort of making it up as we go along."

Roth began taking patients before 8 a.m. By 10:30 a.m., he had treated 16. Nearly 150 people had signed up by then.

"My tooth broke right around the time I saw the article," said Brownell, who was waiting inside the lobby Saturday morning. "I have six kids and I really can't afford to pay for it ... It does cause some pain and aggravation. I can't eat."
Brownell appeared relaxed. Even though she hadn't been in a dentist's chair in her adult life, she was feeling more relieved than anxious. She smiled, even when she described the lingering ache in her lower gums.

She hopes Roth offers the same service again. If so, she would volunteer. She has no background in dentistry, but she would try to make herself useful.

"I would serve coffee if (he) needs me to," Brownell said. "I'd try to see what I could do."

Patients filled the three rooms throughout the morning and afternoon. Others were filling out forms in the lobby as they waited for a vacant room.

Surgical assistants jettisoned from room to room to assist each patient.

"I was at my mechanic's when I read the article," said former dental assistant Dawn Chapman.

She is currently studying to be a dentist at the University of South Florida. She is a full-time student, but carved out enough hours Saturday to help Roth.

"I called him up and said, 'I really believe in what you're doing,'" Chapman said. "I really wanted to volunteer."

Roth did not have a dental hygienist, so he was not offering cleanings. He was prepared to do fillings, but he was anticipating mostly extractions. That was all he had as of mid morning.

"Dental insurance these days seems to be optional," he said.

He was cautious when the topic moved to dental coverage. He showed restraint.

"It's not really insurance," he said. "It's more like a health-savings plan."

A volunteer who met patients at the door was still accepting signatures as of 10:30 a.m., but told them it was unlikely the doctor would see them.

Roth offers free consultations and has said he would like to continue to offer the free clinic. His office is located at Oak Walk Park, located off Powell Road near U.S. 41.

The wind chills Saturday morning were below freezing. Rebecca McPhee was sitting in the shade near the front door with her hands firmly planted deep in the pockets of her Notre Dame jacket.

She arrived at 7 a.m. and signed the patient roster. Ninety had already signed their names by then.

McPhee didn't seem to mind the wait in spite of the chilly conditions.

"I'm hoping to get four teeth pulled," she said.

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

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