​Foundation Donates $6K for Families First for Dental Supplies

PORTSMOUTH, NH — The Samuel P. Hunt Foundation has granted $6,000 to Families First Health & Support Center to upgrade dental equipment. Families First is a community health center providing primary, prenatal, behavioral and dental care; parent and family groups; one-on-one family support; and mobile health care, according to a press statement.

Families First will use the grant funds to replace three amalgamators (used in restoring teeth), a model trimmer (used in the creation of dentures), and a System B Touch and Heat (used during root canals), all of which were purchased when the Dental Center opened in 2003.

“Families First prides itself upon providing high-quality care to a patient population where 96 percent are low income, and this dental equipment was on its last leg.” said Families First Executive Director Helen Taft. “Low income should never equal low quality care. It is clear that the Hunt Foundation believes this to be true as well, and we are extremely thankful for their support.”

Families First operates a Dental Center at their main location in Portsmouth as well as two programs that serve the Seacoast area. Their Mobile Dental Program is the only program in the region that provides mobile dental services for homeless people. Seacoast Healthy Grins provides oral health education, screenings, cleanings, fluoride treatments and sealants to children at area elementary schools, Head Start programs and other preschools.

More information about Families First is at 603-422-8208 or FamiliesFirstSeacoast.org.

Caption: The Samuel P. Hunt Foundation has granted $6,000 to Families First Health & Support Center to upgrade old dental equipment. Here, Dental Assistant Samantha Maillet, CDA, shows the newly purchased Model Trimmer tool.

Submitted by Julia Minchew.