Dental residents from the University of Iowa will be offering free dental care to as many as 100 Big Island children April 27-May 1.

The Keiki Dental Project is a collaboration between the Hamakua Health Center, University of Iowa, Hawaii Kaiser-Permanente, Honokaa Elementary School and the Office for Social Ministry & St. Francis Community Health Services.

The children range in age from 1 through the sixth grade.

Services will include X-rays, fillings, extraction of non-restorable teeth and fluoride treatments.

Each child will go home with a toothbrush kit. Dentists will also be bringing oral health education into the classroom of preschool and elementary students.

Children eligible for these services are those with Quest or Medicaid as their only dental insurance or those who are uninsured and qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Participating schools include Honoka'a Elementary, Ka Hale Na o Na Keiki Pre-School and Waimea Elementary Migrant Even Start Pre-School.

The program, first held in 2007 in Waimea, is the brainchild of Dr. Elaine Himadi, a pediatrician on the University of Iowa faculty who is a former Kamuela resident and Waimea Intermediate School administrator.