Glendale Healthy Kids will provide free dental care to about 100 children during the week-long USC Mobile Dental Clinic, which kicked off Friday.

The non-profit organization, which helps meet the health needs of uninsured and underinsured children, is teaming up with the Northwest Glendale Lions Club this year to provide free eye exams.

Fourth year dental students will treat the children in air conditioned trailers.

"Many of these children would not receive treatment or see a dentist if it wasn't for our program," said Glendale Healthy Kids Board President Kathleen Powers. "Most of our children come from families where the parents are working but do not receive full medical benefits."

In its 10 th year, the annual clinic provides dental examinations, x-rays, cleanings, cavity fillings and other treatment. The children, ages 7-18, are referred by the Glendale Unified School District and other agencies.

Camille Levee, Glendale Healthy Kids executive director, said good dental hygiene is vital.

"What parents don't realize is that good dental health keeps the child healthy," she said. "It's been shown that dental hygiene impacts the throat, heart disease and a variety of things ... One-third of kids will have some sort of dental disease by the third grade. We need to start the kids early."

Walk-ins will be accepted for the Eye Clinic, which will be available for children and adults in conjunction with the visit from the USC Mobile Dental Clinic. The Eye Clinic will be on site July 13, 14, and 16.

The dental clinic, which costs about $60,000 in total, will be at Roosevelt Middle School, 222 E. Acacia Ave. in Glendale. Glendale Healthy Kids raise the money through grants, donations and other fundraisers for the program, said Cathy Keen, past president of the organization.

For more information on Glendale Healthy Kids call (818) 548-7931 or visit www.glendalehealthykids.org. The organization provides medical and dental referrals to more than 200 providers year round. All services are free.