Dental Connections, a nonprofit dental clinic that serves children and families in need, has received a $25,000 Community Development Grant from Polk County to help cover the cost of dental care for underserved children. Dental Connections will use the funding to provide children access to oral health care and education, according to a news release. “This grant from Polk County is instrumental in ensuring that children who might otherwise go without dental care receive the essential care they need for a healthy smile,” Carly Ross, executive director of Dental Connections, said in a prepared statement. “By addressing the barriers that many families face, we are able to provide dental care and education that can reduce the need for more serious and costly dental treatments in the future.” Dental Connections serves almost 14,000 children annually, the release said.