As he has for the past eight years, Yao will be giving $1 for each pound of candy trick-or-treaters bring to his office after Halloween. He will also give $2 to City Team Ministries for each pound of candy he receives.

"I'm concerned about people," Yao said. "I want them to have a healthy mouth."

Yao said his office received about 200 pounds of candy last year and hopes to receive a similar amount this year. In 2004, the loot came in containers that ranged from small plastic pumpkins to large pillowcases, and Yao shelled out anywhere between $2 and $20 a child. As always, he lets his staff sort through the candy and pick out what they want before he donates the rest to Second Harvest Food Bank. Yao said he trusts the charity will dole out one or two pieces to their clients, not enough to induce cavities.

Because many organizations rushed to help those displaced by Hurricane Katrina, funding for local people in need is not as readily available, Yao said. He has specified that the money from the candy buy-back be spent locally.

"We still have people who are down in Silicon Valley and need help," he said.

He has encouraged many of his dentist friends to do their own candy buy-backs, but it seems that most Almaden dentists he contacted refer their patients to Yao's office to collect their money. The 42-year-old orthodontist said he has heard the argument that a few cavities may be good for business, but Yao will have none of that. He said he began to give money for Halloween candy as a way to do good in his community and mobilize other professionals to think the same way.

"I want to help people be more active in their community in ways they have an expertise in," he said. "This fits our persona. It's in line with what we're supposed to do. Why can't your dentist be a role model?"

Yao will accept candy from children, whether they are his patients or not, at his Almaden office on Nov. 1 and 4. Yao's practice is at 6489 Camden Ave., No.100, San Jose.