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Sarasota County joined communities across the nation last week in observing Dental Assistant Recognition Week, the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County (DOH-Sarasota) announced. The department provides a range of pre- ventive and restorative dental services for children, a news release points out. "A dental assistant who dresses up as 'The Tooth Fairy' can make a child's first experience of going to the dentist a positive one — even for par- ents," the release points out. Dental assistants handle a variety of respon- sibilities, the release continues. "Whether working alongside our dentists, taking X-rays, managing the office, working with insurance providers or providing dental health educa- tion dressed in costume as the Tooth Fairy, dental assistants are essential to the services we provide to children at our two dental clin- ics in Sarasota [County]," said DOH-Sarasota Dental Health Director Dr. Chander Malik in the release. The two clinics are located on Ringling Boulevard in Sarasota and in North Port, the release notes. DENTAL ASSISTANTS RECOGNIZED FOR IMPORTANCE OF THEIR WORK A 'Tooth Fairy' at the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County can make a child's first dental experience a positive one, health officials say. Contributed photo Sarasota News Leader March 14, 2014 Page 78