Read the Spanish translation of this story here.
Greenpoint Pediatric Dentistry, owned by John Hansford Jr., will offer free dental services to children ages 1-10 on Friday, Oct. 27 with the help of medical professionals, organizations and individuals.
Hansford is the son of Tim and Ann Hansford of Stephens and attends Salem Baptist Church.
“This is such a great event to showcase the power of collective action,” said Vaidehi Patel, volunteer service coordinator for the University of Georgia’s Dental Minority Dawgs club.
Patel is one of many volunteering their work toward this “shared vision.”
“Our primary focus is to provide care for patients who have a hard time getting dental care,” Greenpoint office manager May Dantas said. “These patients range from Medicaid and uninsured patients to patients with conditions that preclude them from receiving dental care while conscious, such as oppositional defiant disorder, Down syndrome, autism, etc.”
To schedule an appointment:
Call 706-309-7112 or officemanager@greenpointpediatricdentistry.com
- All appointments must be scheduled in advance.
- Patients must be accompanied by a legal guardian.
- Prior consultation with Dr. John Hansford required for office-based anesthesia approval.
Services and activities
Appointments are available on a first-come, first-served basis to any children within the age range.
“Services include routine cleanings, preventive sealants, white fillings, durable silver crowns and extractions with space maintainers,” clinical coordinator Jenny Negrete said.
After consultation and approval, both local and general anesthesia will also be provided free of charge.
In the spirit of Halloween, volunteers will engage patients with festive activities, including distributing treat bags, dressing up and playing with the kids.
Alexis Carr, a pharmacy technician at Athens Infusion & Pharmacy, is volunteering as the ‘Good Time’ coordinator. Carr said one reason she was recommended to Hansford was because of her dedication to a “Willy Wonka” Halloween costume, even cutting her hair to achieve the correct look.
“He reached out to me saying that was the kind of dedication he was looking for in someone to lead the entertainment for the patients,” Carr said. “My job is to hand out goodie bags, tie-dye T-shirts and, generally, make sure folks are having a good, spooky time.”
A community collaboration
Hansford credits the idea for Greenpoint’s free day to “a confluence of seeming coincidences and opportunities.”
“One of my clinical assistants, Sydney Jones, made me aware and got me interested in volunteering my anesthesia services at The Mercy Health Center, a non-profit where dentists volunteer to treat adults free of charge,” he said. “We decided we could help extend that opportunity for pediatric patients.”
Patel heard about the event through U-Lead, “an Athens non-profit that focuses on equal access for immigrants and children of immigrant families.”
She felt this would be a great opportunity for members of her club to give back to the community.
“It highlights the transformative change when individuals, organizations and professionals come together with a shared vision,” Patel said. “As a pre-dental student, I know this opportunity to help those in need will solidify my commitment to continue serving my community through dentistry and advocacy for equal access to healthcare.”
Hansford also credits his “freedom to consider a no-cost day” to Drs. Whitney Swann and Alyson White, the senior dentists at Mitchell Bridge Dental Associates.
They allow Hansford to rent their practice on off days, keeping his costs of operation low.
“None of this would be feasible if not for them,” he said.
Hansford’s mission
Hansford felt inspired to create a “free day” after a health scare during his wife’s recent pregnancy.
He recalled being “fearful” after his wife was diagnosed with vasa previa, a pregnancy complication that involves an obstruction of the birth canal.
“We heard in church that sometimes when you can't control or work on something in your own life, just give it to God, and go help and serve someone else.”
The Hansfords were fortunately able to bring home a healthy daughter, and Hansford is acting on this advice.
“The goal of Greenpoint Pediatric Dentistry is to provide care for people who have a hard time accessing dental care, or have a hard time at the dentist's office once they get there,” he said.
Outreach to these types of patients is at the core of his practice’s “philosophy and structure.”
“The nurses, paramedics, administrators, hygienists and assistants I work with are the great kind of people that find purpose in this work,” Hansford said. “Their hearts are in the right place.”
