The office of Dr. Richard F. Marz, DDS, Comprehensive and Family Dentistry, will host a Free Day of Dentistry with Dentistry from the Heart on Friday in Statesboro.

Beginning at 7:30 a.m., Marz and volunteers will treat the first 50 patients, or however many they can service, by 5 p.m.

Last year, Marz and his team of dentists, sponsors and volunteers helped more than 75 people in need of dental work, treating patients in need of fillings, extractions and cleanings. This year's event promises to be even larger.

Dentistry from the Heart is a national nonprofit organization with a simple mission: making people smile. Founded in 2001 by Dr. Vincent Monticciolo, a dentist in New Port Richey, Florida, DFTH was created to aid those in need, including the growing population of under-insured Americans. More than 100 million Americans lack dental insurance and more than 29 percent of adults have untreated cavities.

Without events like DFTH, dental care simply isn't an option for many of the uninsured.

To date, DFTH has helped more than 5,000 patients and provided more than $1 million in dental care.

For more information, visit www.thestatesborodentist.com or the organization's national website at www.dentistryfromtheheart.org.