Penn Valley dentist Gary Sumner is out to change lives by offering free smiles to anyone who needs dental work.

This Saturday, Sumner and a crew of volunteers from his staff and the community will provide a full day of free dental care to those in need.

The community event, called Dentistry From the Heart, is the brainchild of Florida dentist Vincent Monticciolo and has gone nationwide in the eight years since its inception.

“This is my way of giving back to the community and being there for the people who are in need of dental work,” Sumner said.

He heard Monticciolo give a presentation at a continuing education seminar in Arizona. His interest was sparked by Monticciolo’s “passion,” and Sumner made a point of talking to the other dentist a few times. By the third day, he said with a smile, “I was on board.”

“He said that he’d never felt so good about helping people,” Sumner said. “With the economy now, there are a lot of people out there who need emergency care they can’t afford.”

Sumner’s staff put out flyers at some of the local shelters and, initially, he thought mostly homeless people would show up.

“But I’ve been getting calls and e-mails from a lot of people who’ve recently lost their jobs,” he said. “People are coming from Sacramento, Chico, Yuba City, Oroville.”

Sumner and his staff are providing the bulk of the services such as fillings, cleanings and extractions, and several other providers in town are helping.

Sumner will “triage” patients and send some to Dr. Steve Leighty, a Grass Valley dentist and oral surgeon. Three specialists will take referrals — pediatric dentist Terry Horlick, periodontist Sean Avera and endodontist Lee Osnas.

“Root canals take a long time,” Sumner explained. “I’ll be mainly doing emergency care. If it gets into something else, I can refer them out.”

When people are financially strapped, their tendency is to put off dental work, Sumner noted — but good dental health is vital.

Sumner has no idea how many people will show up at his Penn Valley office, although he estimated it will be in the hundreds.

“We’ll do what we can do,” Sumner said. “I’ll stay out here as long as I can do it.”

Many of Sumner’s staff members have volunteered as well, including receptionist Megan Smith, hygienists Heidi Hash and Tanya Steele, registered dental assistant Andrea Purdy, and dental assistants Katie O’Neil, Courtney Stevens, Amanda Liller and Michelle Ollar.

“We just want to help those in the community who need it, the people who can’t afford it, especially in these times,” Hash said.

Smith took flyers to Hospitality House, where she spoke about the free clinic.

“One gentleman was so excited, it made me look even more forward to the event,” she said. “I think it’s going to be awesome.”

Volunteers from the community will help register patients and direct traffic, Smith said; at least one Spanish-speaking volunteer will be on hand.

Caroline’s and Starbucks will donate coffee, Holiday Market has contributed water and snacks, Walker’s Office Supplies is donating pens, clipboards and printer ink, and Pleasant Valley School is loaning tables and chairs.

More than 100 million Americans lack dental insurance, and more than 29 percent of adults have untreated cavities, according to Dentistry From the Heart’s Web site.

Since 2005, Monticciolo has enlisted more than 60 dental practices across the United States to host events.

Dentistry From The Heart has served more than 10,000 people and given away more than $2.5 million in free dental work.

To contact Staff Writer Liz Kellar, e-mail lkellar@theunion.com or call 477-4229.