FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) – South Carolina’s Dental Access Days wrapped up Saturday afternoon inside the Florence Civic Center.
More than 200-hundred dentists offered free cleanings, fillings, root canals and other services on a first-come first-served basis.
Adults who typically have limited or no access to dental care were able to take advantage of these services at no cost.
Ricky Bumpus rode a bus five hours to get to Florence and ended up being one of the first few people in line early Saturday morning.
Bumpus is 29-year-old and is in drug recovery. He says he couldn’t afford having his teeth pulled so attending the free dental care is life-changing.
“I’ll be able to get better jobs, it would just…the whole quality of my life will change this day because I’ll be able to get my teeth pulled and my dentures are already paid for and they can just put them in and I’ll have a perfect smile for the first time ever,” said Bumpus.
Organizers say the final total was for over 1,600 patients who got over one-million dollars’ worth of free dental care.