The Gainesville Housing Authority (GHA) and the University of Florida’s Saving Smiles initiative, sponsored by the Children’s Trust of Alachua County, have partnered to provide free dental services to GHA youth ages 18 and under through a series of Dental Clinic Days.

The clinic will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday through Friday, June 9-12, at Eastwood Meadows, 925 S.E. 43rd St., in Gainesville, according to a GHA release sent on Tuesday.

The clinic is free and open to current Gainesville Housing Authority residents age 18 and younger. Walk-ins are welcome, although appointments are strongly encouraged.

Residents may register by calling 352-280-0010.

The initiative is designed to address financial and transportation barriers that often prevent families from accessing routine dental care. Student volunteers from the UF College of Dentistry, under the supervision of faculty members, will bring portable dental equipment directly into the community to provide preventive oral health services.

Participating youth will receive a range of services, including routine dental screenings, examinations and professional cleanings; fluoride treatments and preventive sealants; and one-on-one oral hygiene education. Patients will also receive dental care kits and referrals for advanced treatment when needed.

“Good oral health is intrinsically linked to overall physical health, yet it is too often treated as a luxury,” said Pam Davis, chief executive officer of the Gainesville Housing Authority, in the press release. “By partnering with UF Saving Smiles, we are proactively removing the barriers that keep our residents from receiving the care they deserve.”