Free Dental Care Draws Community to Iron Mountain Center

IRON MOUNTAIN, Mich. (WLUC) – On Saturday, the John Fornetti Dental Center hosted its 19th annual Dentistry from the Heart event, providing free dental services to individuals aged 18 and older. The event saw over 90 participants braving the harsh winter conditions to receive care.

Dr. John Fornetti, owner of the dental center, noted that the first person arrived as early as 3 a.m. to secure a place in line. “There’s a tremendous amount of need that we’ve been seeing,” Dr. Fornetti said. “Infections and broken teeth and such. So, people have been waiting and waiting for this event so that they could come and get their needs taken care of.”

Participants were offered a range of services, including cleanings, fillings, and extractions, all at no charge. Registered dental hygienist Lissa Twardzik remarked on a notable shift toward preventive care this year. “I’ve noticed in the last couple of years that since we’ve been doing this for so long, we’ve helped so many people in the community. It’s a lot more preventive dentistry now,” Twardzik said. “I see a lot more people cleaning teeth than maybe in the past that were just coming in to get fillings.”

One of the patients, Gwendolyn McKay, received treatment for tooth pain and was grateful for the structured environment of the event. “They have everything so well organized,” McKay said. “It was easy to understand what steps needed to be taken, and coffee and soup were available. I got to talk to people from the community, so it was awesome.”

The event was made possible through the dedication of approximately 50 volunteers who assisted throughout the day. In total, 93 individuals received services, resulting in 116 procedures performed within a seven-hour timeframe. The estimated value of the donated treatment exceeded $49,000.