Dentist Eli Jackson works on a patient Friday, February 10, 2017, during a free dentistry day at Chandler Park Dental Care. (Bac Totrong/photo@bgdailynews.com)

Sandy Boardman was at her wit’s end.

The Scottsville woman had already had an infection in her tooth that landed her in the hospital and almost killed her. She and her husband, Joseph, are on disability and can’t afford to see a dentist except through “Smiles from the Heart,” Chandler Park Dental Care’s free dentistry day. Friday was the practice’s seventh annual event.

“That’s the only money we have. Our bills are bigger than the amount we get,” Sandy Boardman said. “I haven’t been to the dentist since before my surgery and that was two or three years ago.”

Chandler Park dentist Dr. Devin Hall found another infection in Sandy Boardman’s tooth.

“They did an extraction,” she said. “Dr. Hall was very good. I hear they have it every year, so we’ll definitely be back.”

Joseph Boardman was having problems with his teeth as well, Sandy Boardman said. He was more concerned about his wife, though.

“If he hadn’t extracted it, it could’ve happened again,” he said.

Joseph Boardman said he has a lot of bad teeth. Five days ago, part of a tooth broke off. The sharp edge rubbed a small hole in his tongue. The top part of the tooth had broken in half and the dentist had to get the second half out.

“They had to do oral surgery,” he said. “I didn’t feel a thing. He said you’d feel pressure. He did a great job and he had a great sense of humor.”

Chandler Park Dental Care Administrative Assistant Jody Sullivan said the day requires volunteer dentists and staff to make things run smoothly. This year’s dentists came from Kentucky, Tennessee and Missouri.

“There’s no way we could do it without their help,” she said. “They are different colleagues that (Chandler Park Dental Care dentist) Dr. (Eli) Jackson knows. We have people come from other states and other parts of Kentucky.”

Anyone can come get help, but many of the people who come have no insurance, Sullivan said.

“We don’t ask questions,” she said. “We want to help anyone who needs it.”

By 10 a.m., there had been about 70 patients who had come through, Sullivan said. They usually average about 200 by the time they finish at around 4 p.m.

“Once you do it for the first year and you see how much you’re helping, it’s hard to stop,” she said. “Everybody is so grateful.”

Diana Vera of Russellville got a tooth filled. She was happy to have the work done, said her daughter Kylie Vera.

“It was good,” she said. “My aunt told us about it.”

Stacy Phillips of Bowling Green had an extraction.

“It’s broke off twice and been abscessed, infected and swollen. There was no pain. They done an X-ray,” she said. “After that they came in and numbed me. Within the first seconds it started going numb.”

Phillips came to “Smiles from the Heart” last year.

“I had an extraction to the tooth next to it,” she said.

Both her experiences have been good, Phillips said.

“It’s really nice. They’re really caring,” she said. “They like to have fun. It’s like home.”