The Help a Child Smile mobile dental clinic pulled into Effingham County on Monday to provide dental care to children without a family dentist.

Dr. Mark Shurett of Conyers began the mobile program in 1993. The motor home travels throughout the state of Georgia performing procedures such as cleanings, X-rays, exams and cavity treatments.

According to manager Heather Lewis, the clinic returns to a site every six months. For those with cavities the clinic returns sooner.

The mobile dental program will be at the Department of Family and Children Services (DFACS) in Springfield through today. Dr. Simon Nam and a team of assistants are seeing children only with appointments.

Though Lewis could not say why Dr. Shurett started the program more than 10 years ago, she has an idea.

“Lot of it’s convenience,” she noted.

With the program, children can be seen easily, even while at school. The service comes to them instead of the other way around.

Parents may pay for their child’s dental procedures with cash, PeachCare, Medicaid or other insurance. The local DFACS office and participating schools notify parents when the clinic will be in the county, according to Lewis.