On Feb. 6, Dr. Paul Heath and his office staff will participate in “Operation Give Kids a Smile.” The program, sponsored by the American Dental Association, is a nationwide project that began two years ago in St. Louis.

Mary Holliday, Heath’s office manager, said the goal is to provide free dental care for children whose families can’t afford it.

Last year, Heath’s office participated in the program. As they will this year, Heath and his office staff donated their time, working on a day the office is normally closed. Dental work provided that day included cleanings, exams, X-rays and fillings, Holliday said. Eight children were treated in the office, but Heath and his staff were disappointed with the turnout.

“We probably could have seen close to 50 children,” Holliday said.

So this year they’re spreading the word early, contacting area newspapers, talking to school nurses and even doing an early dental screening with the third-grade classes in McLouth.

All parents have to do is fill out a paper that gives the dentist permission to examine their children’s teeth. Parents can request that work be done on their children by calling Heath’s office at (913) 796-6113 by Feb. 1. The office is at 111 S. Union in McLouth.

Holliday said she hopes children from the area, including McLouth, Tonganoxie and Oskaloosa, will participate.