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By Katie Ussin

Story Published: Oct 19, 2009 at 5:45 PM MDT

Story Updated: Oct 20, 2009 at 10:09 AM MDT

BILLINGS - Billings health professionals are giving back this coming holiday season with the annual Thanksgiving Give Back a Smile Project.

Riverstone Health and 16 local dentists are teaming up to provide lower income households with free dental care on Friday, November 20. There are income guidelines to qualify.

For a household of one the maximum annual gross income is $13,538.
For a household of two the maximum annual gross income is $18,213.
For a household of three the maximum annual gross income is $22,888.
For a household of four the maximum annual gross income is $27,583.
For a household of five the maximum annual gross income is $32,238.
Access will be on a first-come-first-served basis and you must meet the 20% or below federal poverty guidelines.

If you qualify, you are then asked to stop in to Riverstone Health and pick up and fill out an application as soon as possible. There are 92 appointments available and individuals with the most urgent needs will be seen first.

"I think anybody who's having tooth pain that's changing their eating, sleeping habits, keeping them away from work are the people we're looking to help."

Riverstone Health officials say last time they held this event the appointments were filled within three days of announcing the project.

Thursday, Nov 5 at 11:18 PM Brenda wrote ...

I dont get it, I'm a family of 5, go through Riverstone dental and I have to pay to have my teeth done. Riverstone has screwed me out of having one tooth pulled twice already. they called 2 months ago to cancelle saying my dentist was sick, I come to find out a week later he was in the town I live, do dental work. Now I'm stuck waiting until Nov. 29th, and I called and made my first appointment in Aug. So be careful about that, but they do wonderful work.

Wednesday, Oct 21 at 6:29 AM Howard wrote ...

We don't advertise it. We do (or did) the work as we were told stories from existing patients or local school districts contacts. There may be dental schools and hygiene programs that offer care at greatly reduced rates in your area.

Tuesday, Oct 20 at 12:26 PM Sarah wrote ...

@Howard I didn't know dental offices did charity work. Where can I find one of these dentists?

Tuesday, Oct 20 at 12:22 PM Slickwitted wrote ...

I think this is definately a good idea but not happy about the income guidlines...I make above what is listed but have so much debt that I am basically living in poverty...I think that people's finacial situations should be taken into account

Tuesday, Oct 20 at 7:24 AM Howard wrote ...

I think this is great. We'd like to do more charity work in our dental office. Ironically, patients we offer to do work on for free or at greatly-reduced fee have far and away the highest no-show rates.

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