MAKING LAS VEGAS A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE

Local dentist donates work to needy children

By Beth Fisher

CREATED Nov. 13, 2012

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  • Dr. Mark Escoto is helping make Las Vegas a better place to live by donating free dental work to kids who can not afford it. Video by ktnv.com

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Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- Nobody likes the dentist, but one local doctor might just change your mind.  Because he's making Las Vegas a better place to live.

Dr. Mark Escoto specializes in general and cosmetic dentistry.  But what makes this father of six so unusual is the kids he has in his chair.

Dr. Escoto says, "For me, the most rewarding part is when I can connect with these kids and get them to smile. Because they've had things going on in their life that's difficult."

Dr. Escoto provides free dental care to the boys and girls who call Boystown home. Kids like 11-year-old Devon who says, "Dr. Escoto cares for kids."

He does care.  Dr. Escoto works to earn the trust of these kids. In some cases, it takes him years to earn that trust.  Eventually, boys like 17-year-old Jonathan tease Dr. Escoto about going to Bishop Gorman High School.  "But he's all right. Everything else is good."

It's that rapport Dr. Escoto strives for. That and beautiful smiles. "If kids are conscious of their smiles and not wanting to project their smiles, I want to help them.  If I can fix that...it's good for me."

In addition to providing free care to the kids of Boystown, Dr. Escoto is also on the board at Boystown. His staff told Action News Dr. Escoto recently heard about homeless students at Rancho High School and reached out to help those kids as well.