A local dentist, Dr. Perry Stamatiades, is once again offering free dental care to the community at his annual event, Servants of Smiles. To document this act of service, Asheville filmmaker Caleb Owolabi is creating a documentary series that will showcase Stamatiades’ family, faith, and practice, in addition to highlighting the free dental clinic event. The series will debut in Asheville later this year at a charity event raising money for Asheville’s free dental clinics.
The Servants of Smiles event, set to take place on April 22, offers patients a choice between a free cleaning, extraction or filling. Last year, the clinic served 105 patients and provided $52,000 of free dentistry. Stamatiades and his practice also offer another day of service specifically for veterans called Smiles for Freedom.
“I thought spotlighting this act of service might encourage other practitioners to do their own pro bono work,” said Owolabi. “It’s so rare for a healthcare practitioner to offer their services for free.”
Prospective patients looking to take advantage of the free event can find more information on Facebook, or are encouraged to be in line at 7 a.m. on April 22 at the Zöe Dental office. The event is first come first serve.
“I would love to see the spirit of the event spread through the community,” Dr. Stamatiades said.“I’m just so thankful that my coworkers are willing to come in on their day off and join me in giving back.”
To learn more about this initiative or to donate time or resources, visit zoedental.com.