For the past two years the Montana Dental Association, its executive director Mary Kelly McCue, and doctors Nate Ehlers and Shal LaVoie -- past presidents of the Fifth District Dental Society -- have supplied Rocky Mountain Development Council Head Start's 248 3- to 5-year-olds with toothbrushes.

We at Head Start want to thank them for their generosity.

Medical and dental care for our Head Start families is a priority, and starting early and often with education about tooth brushing is our goal.

We would have to pay a fairly good chunk of our health budget for the toothbrushes if not for these local organizations.

We feel so lucky to be located here in Helena, as time and again our community proves to us that they have the biggest hearts ever.

Dr. Kevin L. Rencher, pediatric dental specialist, volunteers many hours to see that our children are well taken care of and is a valued member of our Head Start Health Services Advisory Committee and Head Start Policy Council.

Dr. Matthew D. Coplin also sees many of our children and makes sure their toothy smiles make us smile too.

Thank you from the bottom of our upper and lower palates.