The free dental clinic scheduled for Feb. 19 and 20 at Gloucester High School will now be one day longer for some patients.

Gloucester dentist Dr. Charles Harris said that triage and x-ray for the clinic will begin at 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 18 for up to 150 selected patients. Those patients will then be the first to be treated on Saturday, beginning at 7 a.m.

The catch is that anyone interested in being among those first patients needs to call in during a specific time period the week before to have their names put on the list on a first-come, first-served basis. Harris said the team of dental professionals hopes to see as many as 750 patients this year, so organizers want to eliminate the lag time they experienced on Saturday last year as they waited for the first patients to undergo triage and x-rays.

Anyone interested in being among those first 150 patients should begin calling 804-384-2190 at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 11.

Three lines will be dedicated to the call-in, said Harris. Patients will be asked for their name, telephone number, address, existing heart or diabetic condition, and what medications they’re on, and especially whether they’re on blood thinners. He said anyone who is scheduled to be treated should stop taking their blood thinners at least five days before their appointment, especially if teeth need to be removed.

Harris reminds the public that children are welcome and that as many patients as possible will be seen Saturday and Sunday on a first-come, first-served basis.

To view this article in its entirety, subscribe here. Already an online subscriber? Login Here