Local dentist chain gives free dental treatments to Ukraine refugees

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — ASAP Dental Care, a Jacksonville chain, has been providing free dental care to local refugees from Ukraine.

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On Thursday, Action News Jax spoke with a patient who is from Ukraine who escaped the Russian-Ukrainian war last year. His name is Babohgdan Kochanveh and he says he escaped the war in Ukraine with his entire family just six months ago.

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He described the war as scary and a situation he’s glad to be out of.

“It’s scary,” Kochanveh said.

He says he made his way through Poland and then to Jacksonville.

“My family is here, my father, mother, my wife and my sister here,” Kochanveh said.

He came to Jax because he has an uncle here who could help. This week ASAP Dental Care wanted to be a part of helping Kochanveh and other local Ukraine refugees as well. So the dentistry chain decided to provide free dental care for three days straight.

Read: Donations fill Jacksonville warehouse for Ukrainian refugees

“It’s cavities, it’s children and a lot of it is lack of access for patients,” ASAP Dental Care office manager Jeremy Davis said.

Davis told ANJ he and his staff have been caring for 50 to 60 patients a day during this three day time span. Each day between $50,000 and $60,000 of dental treatments were waived.

“A lot of these folks displaced, came over here, got 100 things to worry about, at least we can provide them with some dental care,” Davis said.

Read: ‘We have not forgotten them:’ Fernandina Beach doctor helping Ukrainian refugees

Yevah Cueto is another dentist at ASAP Dental Care. She has ties to both Russia and Ukraine and some of her family is still in Ukraine. She tells me they have not yet left because of medical issues. Cueto and her Russian mother, who also happens to be a dentist, wanted to find a way to help the people in Ukraine. They both played a big part in making the last three days happen.

“She was at the Russian store and met someone through a local Slavik church here in Jacksonville, they got to talking about ways that we could help,” Cueto said. “The Ukrainian people are very strong and resilient and talking to these people you wouldn’t even know that something has gone on as traumatic as they’ve been through.”

“It’s good, thank you very much,” Kochanveh said.

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If you’d like to help out Jacksonville’s local Ukraine Refugees just stop by one of the eight local ASAP Dental Cares in Jacksonville where they’re collecting donations. Call 904-777-4622 to find the closest ASAP Dental Care to you.